Abandoned nine-month -old baby found crawling on road

Residents of Shodipo Crescent in the Ikeja Government Reserved Area of Lagos State were shocked on Wednesday to find an abandoned baby boy crawling on the road.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the nine-month-old baby, whose name had yet to be ascertained, was seen crawling by residents, who quickly alerted some policemen on patrol in the area.

Our correspondents gathered that the child was picked up by the policemen and brought to the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja.

The baby was thereafter taken for a checkup.

It was gathered that the nine-month-old was believed to have crawled out of his parents’ apartment, although no resident in the area had showed up for the baby boy.

A police source told PUNCH Metro that the child would remain in the police custody until his family showed up with concrete proofs of relationship.

She said, “We found the boy on Shodipo Crescent in the Ikeja GRA. He is about nine months old. He was found crawling on the road. Some residents thereafter alerted some policemen on patrol.

“The police team rescued the baby. So far, nobody has come up to claim the baby. He must have left the custody of his parents or guardian and that is how some children fall into the hands of kidnappers and ritual killers. He is still with us at the command headquarters.”

In a related development, an Indian national was rescued from some gunmen on Wednesday by the police who wanted to abduct him in the Epe area of Lagos State.

Our correspondents gathered that the Indian national, whose name was not disclosed by the police “to protect him”, was working at a construction site near a waterway, when the abductors came in a speedboat and took him away.

A police source told one of the correspondents that there was an exchange of gunfire between some police operatives and the gunmen, who were forced to abandon the Indian on the water, while they fled.

He said, “The Indian was a contractor at a construction site in the Epe area. Some kidnappers had emerged from the waters and abducted the Indian at gunpoint. They were taking him away when some police operatives engaged them in a gun battle.

“Although none of the abductors was arrested, the police were able to rescue the Indian.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the baby, and the Indian’s rescue, saying investigations were ongoing into the cases.

He said, “We appeal to members of the public to take a good care of their children and wards while trying to make ends meet. So far, nobody has come forward to claim the abandoned baby.

“Also, the rescued Indian has been debriefed by the police, and investigation is ongoing.”