By Sarah NEGEDU
Residents of Jikoko village located in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory are in shock following the discovery of an abandoned baby in the community.
The day-old was said to have been found in a carton, wrapped in cloth, and dumped along a bush path near a poultry farm in the village.
A resident of the village who simply gave his name as Aliyu, said the discovery shocked the community.
“We woke up to the sight of a day-old baby kept in a carton. The carton was placed along a bush path close to a poultry farm in Jikoko. The police were notified, and they took the baby to a health centre for medical attention.”
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, who confirmed the incident, said an investigation had begun to trace the mother of the abandoned child.
“Investigation has commenced to locate the mother of the baby. The baby is currently with the social welfare department,” she said.
This is not the first time a baby has been abandoned in the Mpape area.
In January 2025, another newborn was found along a bush path near Crush Rock, behind the uncompleted Red Bricks Market in Mpape.
The mother was later arrested and told police she abandoned the baby due to poverty.
Also, the command in December 2024, expressed concern over the rising number of abandoned babies across Abuja.
