The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has apprehended a woman, Khadija Ali, for allegedly abandoning her newborn baby along a bush path near Crush Rock, behind the uncompleted Red Bricks Market in Mpape, Abuja.
According to a statement released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, the infant, believed to be just a day old, was discovered at around 10:00 AM on Friday by operatives from the Mpape Division’s Juvenile and Women Care Section.
The officers responded to a distress call from concerned residents who stumbled upon the baby wrapped in a cloth.
The baby was immediately rescued and transported to the Mpape Primary Health Care Centre for medical evaluation. Health officials confirmed that the child was in a stable condition.
“On Friday, January 3, 2025, at about 10:00 AM, police operatives responded to a distress call and discovered the baby wrapped in a cloth.
The child was promptly taken to Mpape Primary Health Care Centre, where medical evaluation confirmed the baby is in stable condition,” Adeh stated.
Following a tip-off from residents, police arrested the mother, Khadija Ali, who admitted to abandoning the child.
During questioning, Ali revealed she was unable to care for the baby after being abandoned by her husband, citing financial difficulties as the reason for her actions.
The police condemned the act of child abandonment, describing it as a severe violation of the child’s rights. Ali is set to be prosecuted under Sections 14 and 16 of the Child Rights Act of 2003, which criminalizes neglect and abandonment of children.
“The FCT Police Command vehemently condemns this act of child abandonment and reassures the public of its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of society,” Adeh stated.
The rescued baby has been handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for proper care as investigations continue. Ali will face charges upon the conclusion of the police inquiry.
