Two babies have been rescued after being abandoned in separate incidents in Kurudu and Gwagwalada areas of the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Police Command has said.
The incidents occurred on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, with residents in both communities alerting the police after hearing the cries of the abandoned children.
According to the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the first case was reported at about 5:45pm at the Kurudu Police Station by a resident identified as Mr Innocent.
Adeh said Innocent had heard a baby crying around Obodo Street, Kurudu, shortly before making the report. When he went to investigate, he discovered a baby carefully wrapped in cloth and placed inside a carton box.
Police officers from the Kurudu Division, accompanied by personnel from the Juveniles and Women Care (JWC) Department, were immediately deployed to the location and rescued the child.
The baby boy was taken to a nearby hospital for medical assessment and was reported to be in stable condition. Following the necessary documentation, the child was handed over to the Social Welfare Department for further care.
The second incident occurred later that night in Gwagwalada.
Adeh said another resident, identified as Mr Ibrahim, heard a baby crying outside his gate at about 9:40pm. On checking, he discovered a baby who appeared to have been abandoned at the premises.
Ibrahim, assisted by other concerned residents, rescued the child and reported the matter to the Gwagwalada Police Station at about 10:15pm.
The child, a baby girl, was subsequently taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital by personnel of the JWC Department for medical examination and care. The police said arrangements were being made for her eventual handover to the Social Welfare Department.
The Command said investigations were ongoing in both cases to determine the circumstances surrounding the abandonment and identify the children’s mothers or other relatives.
Adeh commended Innocent, Ibrahim and other community members for responding quickly and notifying the police.
The police also appealed to members of the public with information that could help identify the babies’ mothers or family members to provide such information to the nearest police station.
The Command stressed that information from the public could assist investigators in determining how the children came to be abandoned and ensuring appropriate care and protection for them.
