A two-year-old boy, whose identity remains unknown, was discovered abandoned at a dumpsite in the Iganmu area of Lagos State. The child was found on Monday night by a Good Samaritan and was subsequently taken to the police station for safety.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident in a post shared on his X.com handle on Tuesday. He also appealed to the public for assistance in reuniting the child with his family.
“Found child: This boy of about two years old was found last night at the Sari Iganmu dumpsite by a Good Samaritan and brought to the station. Kindly share to enable him to reunite with his family,” Hundeyin stated.
Appeal for Public Assistance
The police are now actively seeking help from the public to identify the boy’s family. Authorities have not provided additional details regarding how the child came to be at the dumpsite, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the circumstances of his abandonment.
Previous Cases of Child Abandonment in Lagos
This incident highlights an ongoing issue of child abandonment in Lagos State. In April 2023, a similar case occurred when a newborn baby girl was found abandoned near a church in the Ikorodu Local Government Area. The infant, believed to be only a day old, was discovered by a resident who heard her crying by the roadside. The child was taken to Ikorodu General Hospital for medical care.
Around the same time, another case was reported involving a day-old baby boy found abandoned in a polythene bag on Alhaji Masha Road in Surulere. The baby was rescued by the police and also taken to a hospital for medical attention.
The Growing Concern of Child Abandonment
The recurrence of such cases underscores the growing concern over child abandonment in Lagos. While authorities are working to provide immediate care for rescued children, the underlying causes, such as poverty, lack of social support, and unplanned pregnancies, need to be addressed through comprehensive social welfare programs.
Call for Support
The Lagos State Police Command is urging members of the public to share information about the recently found child to aid in reuniting him with his family. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the nearest police station or the command’s public relations office.
The police also emphasized the importance of community vigilance and reporting suspicious activities to help prevent similar incidents in the future. As investigations continue, the focus remains on ensuring the child’s safety and providing the necessary care until his family is located.
