Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Precious Yohanna, over the alleged killing of her newborn baby in the Jabi area of Abuja, in a case that has shocked residents and prompted the police to describe the act as a grave and unacceptable violation of the sanctity of human life.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, saying it followed the discovery of the lifeless body of a male infant in a bush near Jabi. According to the police, operatives received a distress call at about 10:30 p.m. on October 4, 2026, concerning an abandoned baby in the area, and officers from the Jabi Division were immediately deployed to the scene. There, they found the infant with deep wounds on the throat and abdomen. The baby was rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel on duty confirmed him dead.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, subsequently ordered a manhunt for the person responsible for the death. With the assistance of members of the community, police traced and arrested Precious Yohanna, a native of Riyam in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State and a resident of the Daki-Biu/Jabi area. According to the police, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect gave birth to the baby inside her room on October 3, 2026, at about 4 p.m., and subsequently used a razor blade to inflict fatal injuries on him. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to carrying out the act out of hatred for the baby’s father. The police did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the alleged act or the nature of the relationship between the suspect and the baby’s father.
The FCT Police Command condemned the incident in strong terms. “The command condemns this incident as a grave and unacceptable violation of the sanctity of human life,” the statement read. The Commissioner of Police commended members of the community who assisted the police in identifying and arresting the suspect, and assured the public that the circumstances surrounding the incident would be thoroughly investigated. The suspect remains in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, the command said. The police also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, activities or incidents to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines, 08028940883 and 08032003913.
The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of infanticide and the vulnerability of newborns in Nigeria, where reported cases of mothers killing their babies have persisted despite legal prohibitions. In May 2026, the Enugu State Government arrested one Ogechi John for the alleged killing of her nine-year-old stepdaughter, Amanda John, who was reportedly beaten to death at their residence in Nchatancha, Emene, Enugu East Local Government Area. In September 2026, a mother was arrested in Bayelsa State in connection with the death of her newborn baby. These cases reflect a pattern that child protection advocates describe as underreported, often linked to poverty, mental health challenges, domestic violence and the absence of support systems for vulnerable mothers. The FCT case adds to the growing concern about the safety of children in a country where the social safety net remains weak and where many women lack access to counselling, antenatal care and postnatal support.
The tragic discovery in Jabi occurred late at night, when a distress call alerted police to the presence of an abandoned baby in the bush. By the time officers arrived, the infant had sustained injuries that the police described as deep wounds to the throat and abdomen. He was still alive when he was found, and the decision to rush him to a hospital reflects an initial belief that his life could be saved. That hope was extinguished when medical personnel confirmed him dead. The police have not disclosed whether the suspect was present at the scene when the infant was found or whether she was arrested later. The statement indicates that community members played a critical role in identifying her, a detail that underscores the importance of community cooperation in criminal investigations.
For the people of Jabi and the wider Abuja community, the incident has cast a sombre mood over a neighbourhood that rarely attracts such grim headlines. The case has also raised questions about the support systems available to young mothers in the Federal Capital Territory. The police have not indicated whether the suspect had any history of mental health challenges, whether she was known to social services, or whether there were warning signs that could have prompted intervention before the tragedy occurred. The investigation will now seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the birth of the baby, the two days between his delivery and his death, and the events that led to his body being found in the bush.
The legal framework governing infanticide in Nigeria is contained in the Penal Code, which applies in the northern states and the FCT. Section 236 of the Penal Code provides that a woman who causes the death of her child under the age of one year, while the balance of her mind was disturbed by reason of the effect of giving birth or lactation, may be convicted of infanticide rather than murder. The provision recognises the psychological and physiological stresses of childbirth and allows for a lesser charge in appropriate circumstances. However, the police have not indicated whether they are pursuing an infanticide charge or a more serious charge such as culpable homicide, which carries the death penalty. The charge will be determined by the Director of Public Prosecutions after the investigation is concluded.
The case also intersects with Nigeria’s high rate of maternal mortality and the broader challenges facing women’s health in the country. According to the World Health Organisation, Nigeria accounts for more than 28 per cent of global maternal deaths, and many women give birth without skilled attendance. For mothers who survive childbirth, the postnatal period is often marked by a lack of support, with limited access to mental health services and counselling. The tragedy in Jabi is a reminder that the absence of these support systems can have devastating consequences, not only for the mother but for the child.
For Precious Yohanna, the investigation will determine whether she stands trial and, if so, on what charge. For the community in Jabi, the memory of a newborn found dead in the bush will linger. For the FCT Police Command, the case is another test of its capacity to investigate and prosecute crimes against the most vulnerable members of society. As the Commissioner of Police put it, the command will conduct a thorough investigation and the suspect will be charged to court upon its conclusion. The coming weeks will reveal whether the evidence supports the charges the police intend to file and whether the case becomes another statistic in a country where the voices of the most vulnerable often go unheard.
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