A newborn boy was retrieved on Sunday from a half-finished structure within a mining zone in Naraguta, Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State. Both Punch and Premium Times reported that the infant was located along Ardo Lane with his umbilical cord intact, indicating he was likely less than a day old. The discovery occurred after children playing near the structure heard the baby crying and alerted nearby residents.
Lukman Yusuf Wayas, a resident whose family was notified of the cries, told Punch Metro that he initially heard the infant at 11 p.m. on Saturday but assumed the sound came from a neighboring household. When the cries resumed the following morning, his family contacted security operatives who evacuated the baby to a hospital for medical attention. Wayas later returned to the site with a health worker and found remnants of a placenta, suggesting the birth occurred at that specific location. Premium Times corroborated these details, noting that the initial discovery was made on Sunday morning following the previous night’s noises.
Community leaders have responded to the incident by calling for a thorough investigation. Alhaji Yusuf Wayas, head of the local elders’ group covering Angwan Rogo and three other quarters, described the event as serious and urged parents to monitor vulnerable members of their communities more closely. He stated, “Parents need to pay closer attention to what is happening within their families and communities.” Aliko Sa’adu, the Ardo of Yanjin, noted that similar abandonments had occurred in the area previously. He said the matter had been reported to relevant authorities to identify the mother and reunite her with the child if possible.
Efforts to secure a formal reaction from the Plateau State Police Command were less successful. Both publications noted that spokesperson Alabo Alfred, also referred to as Alfred Alabo, was unreachable by telephone on Monday. As of the reports, the baby remained in hospital care while the investigation into the mother’s identity continued.