Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State Branch, has rescued a two-week-old male infant who was abandoned at a shrine in Abua, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Chairperson of FIDA in Rivers State, Tamunoibuemi Life-George, disclosed the details of the rescue operation on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, explaining that the organisation received credible information on Sunday, June 14, 2026, that the baby had been dumped in front of a local shrine.
According to Life-George, the matter was immediately escalated, and the child was rescued with the support of the police. “We immediately escalated the incident and got the child rescued through the support of the police,” she stated. Preliminary findings and interviews with the mother revealed that the young woman had initially left the baby in the care of the child’s father due to a lack of basic necessities. “Later, the grandfather, who is the father of the infant’s father, allegedly took the baby and dumped him in front of a shrine in the middle of the night,” Life-George explained.
Upon receiving the report and ensuring the arrival of the child, the mother, and good Samaritans at the FIDA Legal Centre, the organisation immediately intervened to ensure the safety and survival of the infant. FIDA secured the baby’s immediate safety and facilitated preliminary medical assessments at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). Emergency living support was also provided for the young mother to enable her to continue breastfeeding and caring for the child. According to Life-George, although the baby is currently stable, comprehensive medical evaluations are still required to guarantee his long-term health. The case is presently being handled at RSUTH in Port Harcourt.
To sustain the intervention, Life-George said FIDA urgently requires financial support to cover medical costs, clinical evaluations, nutritional support, and welfare assistance for the young mother. She appealed to well‑meaning individuals and organisations to support the intervention through financial contributions aimed at funding the baby’s medical diagnostics and providing immediate welfare materials for both mother and child.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, said she would find out from the Divisional Police Officer and get back to reporters. However, she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report. Cases of infant abandonment have continued to raise concern in parts of Nigeria, often linked to poverty, lack of social support systems, and family breakdowns. Such incidents have also highlighted the role of community‑based organisations and civil society groups in emergency child protection and rescue interventions.
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