Residents of Naraguta community in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, came together to rescue a day-old baby boy who was discovered abandoned in an uncompleted building at a mining site. The baby, whose umbilical cord was still attached, was found on Sunday after local children heard his cries and alerted their families.

The incident occurred late Saturday night, around 11 PM, when Lukman Yusuf Wayas initially mistook the cries for those of a newborn from a nearby home. However, the situation escalated the following morning when children playing around the site heard the cries again and informed Wayas, who promptly contacted security operatives.

Security personnel quickly arrived at the scene and transported the infant to a local hospital for immediate medical attention. Wayas, recounting the events, mentioned that upon returning to the site with a health worker, they discovered remnants of the placenta, indicating that the baby had been delivered at that location.

The Chairman of the Elders’ Association for Angwan Rogo, Rimi, Zinaria, and Sabon Layi, Alhaji Yusuf Wayas, expressed grave concern over the incident. He emphasized the need for parents to be vigilant and attentive to the welfare of their children and vulnerable individuals within the community. "This is a serious matter. Parents need to pay closer attention to what is happening within their families and communities," he stated.

Aliko Sa’adu, the Ardo of Yanjin, also commented on the troubling situation, noting that similar incidents have occurred in the area in the past. He called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the newborn. "We have reported the matter to the relevant authorities to investigate and identify the mother of the child. We want them to establish what happened and reunite the baby with the mother where possible," Sa’adu said. He underscored the importance of prioritizing the safety and welfare of the newborn as investigations proceed.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off when contacted for further information on the case. The community remains hopeful that the authorities will take swift action to address this alarming incident and prevent future occurrences.