A two-week-old male infant has been rescued after being abandoned at a local shrine in the Abua community, located within the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The rescue operation was coordinated by the Rivers State branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in collaboration with local police authorities.
According to FIDA Rivers State Chairperson Tamunoibuemi Life-George, the organization launched an emergency intervention after receiving credible information regarding the abandoned newborn.
Preliminary investigations revealed a complex family breakdown rooted in extreme financial hardship.
The infant’s young mother had initially left the child in the custody of the biological father due to an inability to provide basic necessities.
Subsequently, the child’s paternal grandfather allegedly took the infant and left him outside the shrine in the middle of the night.
Following the rescue, FIDA facilitated immediate medical transfers to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) in Port Harcourt, where the infant is currently under observation and listed in stable condition.
The organization has also provided emergency living and nutritional support to the young mother to ensure she can continue nursing the baby.
FIDA has issued an urgent appeal to the public and charitable organizations for financial assistance to cover the ongoing clinical evaluations, medical diagnostics, and welfare materials required for both the mother and the child.
When contacted for an official statement, the Rivers State Police Command indicated that an inquiry into the incident has been initiated through the local divisional office.
