Two-Week-Old Baby Rescued from Shrine in Rivers State After Abandonment
Child protection concerns have intensified in Rivers State after a two-week-old male infant was rescued from a shrine in Abua, Abua/Odual Local Government Area, by members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State branch.
The child was reportedly discovered after credible information was received on Sunday, June 14, 2026, indicating that the infant had been abandoned in front of a local shrine in the community. The organisation immediately escalated the matter and coordinated with the police to ensure the safe rescue of the child.
The Chairperson of FIDA in Rivers State, Tamunoibuemi Life-George, confirmed the rescue operation, stating that swift intervention helped secure the infant’s survival and prevent further harm. She added that preliminary findings suggest the child was first left in the care of his father due to unmet basic needs, before being taken by the paternal grandfather and allegedly abandoned at the shrine during the night.
Following the rescue, FIDA facilitated emergency medical attention for the infant at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt. The organisation also provided immediate support for the young mother to enable her to continue breastfeeding and caring for the child.
Although the infant is currently stable, health professionals have emphasized the need for comprehensive medical evaluations to ensure long-term well-being. The case remains under observation at RSUTH.
FIDA has appealed for financial and welfare support from the public to assist with medical costs, nutrition, and caregiving needs for both mother and child, highlighting the urgent demands of child protection interventions in vulnerable cases.
Child protection advocates say the incident reflects ongoing challenges linked to poverty, lack of social support systems, and family breakdown, calling for stronger community-based safeguards to prevent infant abandonment.
