Benue Forest: Newborn Baby Discovered Alive After Days of Abandonment

A newborn baby girl, believed to have been abandoned shortly after her birth, was miraculously rescued alive from the Ashar forest within Wuese community, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State. The infant, who reportedly spent approximately three days alone in the wilderness, was discovered on Saturday, August 29, 2026, by Mrs. Mbakasev Yisa, a resident who heard sounds of life emanating from a carton.

According to reports from Daily Trust, the baby was found wrapped in clothes and placed inside the carton. Witnesses described the distressing scene, noting the presence of maggots around the baby's body and a foul odour from the carton. Terkumbur Gabriel Mbaukaan, a councillor representing the area, corroborated the incident when speaking to journalists by telephone from Makurdi on Sunday. He confirmed the baby was in a critical state upon her rescue.

Mrs. Yisa, the woman who found the baby, stated that the discovery was immediately reported to the local police outpost. Officers subsequently visited the scene, documented the event, and instructed that the infant be taken for medical care. Councillor Mbaukaan also visited the location to assess the situation and joined in efforts to secure urgent medical attention for the child. He mentioned that the first clinic they approached could not admit the baby due to her severe condition, prompting them to transfer her to Dooshima Clinic in Wuese, where she was finally admitted.

Udigi Waya, the youth leader of Wuese community, similarly confirmed the rescue, reiterating that the baby might have been abandoned for about three days before being found. However, the Benue State Police Command has indicated that it has not yet received an official report regarding this incident.