Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have rescued a newborn baby left in a bush and detained the mother, who claimed she was unable to care for the child after being abandoned by her partner.
The baby, only a day old, was discovered near a bush path by Crush Rock, behind an uncompleted Red Bricks Market in Mpape, according to a statement released on Sunday by the FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh.
The statement revealed that officers from the Juvenile and Women Care Section of the Mpape Police Division responded to a distress call around 10 a.m. on Friday. Upon arrival, they found the infant wrapped in fabric. The baby was quickly taken to the Mpape Primary Health Care Centre, where medical staff confirmed the child was in good health.
Community members provided information that led to the arrest of the baby’s mother, identified as Khadija Ali. During questioning, she confessed to abandoning her child, explaining that she felt overwhelmed and incapable of providing care after her husband left her.
The baby is now under the care of the Department of Social Welfare, while the police are preparing to prosecute the mother under sections 14 and 16 of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003, following the conclusion of their investigation.
The FCT Police Command reiterated its dedication to protecting society’s most vulnerable individuals and expressed gratitude to the public for their assistance. It also encouraged residents to stay alert and report any unusual activities to the authorities.
