Another Child Found Abandoned in Galadima as FCT Grapples with Rising Cases of Neglect

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command in Abuja has again appealed for public assistance after another child was picked up in the Galadima area of the capital earlier on Sunday, 14 September 2026. Authorities described the incident as part of a disturbing and persistent pattern of children being abandoned or left vulnerable across communities in the territory.

According to the FCT Command, the child was discovered in Galadima and is currently in safe custody. Officials stressed that every effort is being made to trace the parents or any relatives so the minor can be reunited with family or placed in a secure, loving environment. “This disturbing trend of children being abandoned or left vulnerable in our communities must stop. Every child deserves safety, love and protection,” the command stated, urging anyone with information that could help identify the child’s parents or family to come forward without delay.

The latest case comes against a backdrop of multiple similar incidents reported in the FCT in recent weeks. On 2 September 2026, police rescued two newborn babies abandoned in separate locations—one a boy found wrapped in cloth inside a carton on Obodo Street in Kurudu, and a girl discovered crying outside a residence in Gwagwalada. Both infants were taken for medical checks, confirmed stable, and handed over to social welfare authorities while investigations into their parentage continued.

Just days earlier, around 13 September, reports emerged of a newborn found abandoned in a drainage system in Wuse Zone 6; the infant was rescued by concerned residents and missionary sisters, resuscitated at a local clinic, and moved for further specialised care.

Police and other agencies have repeatedly flagged the problem. The FCT Police Command has described the rising number of abandoned babies as “alarming,” attributing many cases to men deserting women after impregnating them and calling on those unprepared for fatherhood to take responsibility or abstain from unprotected sex. Broader concerns also include child trafficking networks operating in and around the FCT, with recent recoveries of trafficked minors in Kwali and other area councils, as well as cases of missing children later reunited with families after public appeals.

Child rights advocates and community leaders note that poverty, family breakdown, insecurity in neighbouring states, and weak social support systems contribute to the vulnerability of minors. The Child Rights Act and related protections require that every child receive care, protection from harm, and the opportunity to grow in a safe environment. Abandonment not only endangers immediate survival but can leave lasting physical and emotional scars.

The FCT Command has reiterated its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable while intensifying efforts to identify those responsible for abandonment and to support rescued children through social welfare channels. Residents are urged to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity or found children promptly to the nearest police station, and share any information that could reunite this latest child—or others—with family.

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Anyone with useful details about the Galadima child is encouraged to contact the FCT Command or the nearest police division.

Collective community action, stronger family responsibility, and sustained institutional support remain essential if the cycle of abandonment is to be broken and every child in the Federal Capital Territory given the safety and care they deserve.