By Blessing Elo Oghene
A newborn baby boy, with his umbilical cord still attached, has been found abandoned in an uncompleted building at a mining site along Ardo Lane in Narkuta community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The baby was discovered on Sunday after children playing around the building heard his cries and alerted members of the family of Lukman Yusuf Wayas, who subsequently informed security operatives.
The security operatives reportedly rescued the baby and took him to a hospital, where health workers provided medical attention.
Wayas said he had heard the baby crying at about 11 p.m. on Saturday but initially assumed the sound came from a newborn in a neighbouring family.
According to him, the children raised the alarm the following morning after hearing the cries, prompting the family to notify security operatives.
“When the children heard the cry in the morning, they alerted us, and we immediately informed security operatives who took the baby to the hospital for medical attention,” he said.
Wayas added that they later returned to the scene alongside a health worker and discovered the remains of the placenta, suggesting that the baby might have been delivered at the location.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Elders’ Association in Angwan Rogo, Rimi, Zinaria and Sabon Layi, Alhaji Yusuf Wayas, urged parents to pay closer attention to their families and ensure the protection of vulnerable members of their communities.
He described the incident as serious, stressing the need for greater vigilance within families and communities.
“This is a serious matter, and parents need to pay closer attention to what is happening within their families and communities,” he said.
Similarly, the Ardo of Yanjin, Aliko Sa’adu, disclosed that similar incidents had occurred in the community, calling on the relevant authorities to investigate the latest case.
He said the matter had been reported to the appropriate authorities to identify the baby’s mother and establish the circumstances surrounding the abandonment.
“We have reported the matter to the relevant authorities so that they can investigate and identify the mother of the baby,” Sa’adu said.
He added that the community hoped the authorities would determine what happened and, if possible, reunite the baby with his mother.
Sa’adu, however, emphasised that the safety and welfare of the newborn must remain the priority while investigations continue.
