A two-week-old baby boy has been rescued after being abandoned at a shrine in Abua, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, following a coordinated intervention by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State branch, and the police.
The Chairperson of FIDA in the state, Tamunoibuemi Life-George, confirmed the development on Tuesday while giving details of the rescue effort.
She said the organisation acted after receiving credible information on Sunday, June 14, 2026, that an infant had been left unattended in front of a local shrine in the community.
According to her, the report was immediately escalated, prompting swift action that led to the rescue of the child with the assistance of security operatives.
“We immediately escalated the incident and ensured the baby was rescued with the support of the police,” she said.
Life-George disclosed that preliminary inquiries and accounts from the mother suggested that the child had first been left with his father due to hardship and inability to provide basic needs.
She further alleged that the paternal grandfather later took the baby and abandoned him at the shrine during the night.
Following the rescue, she said FIDA took steps to secure the infant’s safety and brought the child to its legal centre alongside the mother and concerned individuals who facilitated the intervention.
She added that emergency support measures were immediately activated, including medical attention at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, as well as temporary welfare assistance for the mother to enable her breastfeed the child.
Although the baby is reported to be in stable condition, she noted that comprehensive medical tests are still required to ensure full recovery and proper health monitoring.
Life-George said the case remains under medical supervision at RSUTH, while FIDA continues to coordinate both clinical and welfare support for mother and child.
She also appealed to philanthropists, organisations and public-spirited individuals to assist in covering medical expenses, nutrition and other urgent needs.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would confirm details from the divisional police officer and respond, but had not done so as of press time.
The case adds to increasing reports of infant abandonment in parts of the country, often linked to poverty, family instability and gaps in social protection systems.
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