The Ondo State Government has condemned the growing incidence of baby abandonment across the state, urging women and young girls to embrace family planning and responsible parenting to prevent unwanted pregnancies and protect vulnerable children.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Seun Bosede Osamaye, made the call following the rescue of a newborn baby girl allegedly abandoned in a forest in Oboto community, Ondo East Local Government Area.
According to Osamaye, the infant was discovered around 1 a.m. by local hunters and members of a rescue team, who immediately took the child to a government health facility for urgent medical attention.
She said the baby was later placed under the care of the ministry after the case was formally reported to the Director of Child Development, Mr Tofas Mefun.
Describing the incident as “inhumane and wicked”, Osamaye said the abandonment of babies exposes innocent children to danger, trauma and possible death.
“We keep warning our girls and women to put an end to the menace of unwanted pregnancies. Once you know you are sexually active and you are not ready to properly care for a child, go for family planning. It is free in our hospitals,” she said.
She warned that the state government would not tolerate acts capable of endangering the lives of innocent children.
“If any mother is found abandoning a baby in the forest, the government will not take it lightly. Giving birth to a child after nine months and abandoning the baby in the bush is the highest level of wickedness,” the commissioner added.
Osamaye stressed that every child deserves love, protection and proper care, noting that economic hardship or social pressure should never justify abandoning children.
She urged parents and guardians facing challenges in caring for children to seek help from government agencies, approved orphanages and non-governmental organisations rather than exposing babies to danger.
“If you know you cannot take care of a child, instead of abandoning the baby in the forest, bring the child to us. We have facilities and NGOs that can properly take care of such children,” she stated.
The commissioner explained that family planning remains a critical tool for reducing unwanted pregnancies, child neglect and cases of abandonment, encouraging couples and young people to take advantage of available counselling and reproductive health services.
She further assured that the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa remains committed to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring rescued babies receive adequate care through the state’s social welfare institutions.
Osamaye disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa and the First Lady, Esther Aiyedatiwa, had directed that the rescued child be properly cared for and provided with all necessary support for her wellbeing.
Commending the hunters and officials of the Primary Health Centre involved in the rescue operation, the commissioner noted that the baby was discovered after insects had already started biting her body.
“You can imagine what would have happened to the baby if she had not been rescued. What if wild animals had attacked her in the forest?” she queried.
She revealed that the ministry had already commenced procedures to provide proper medical care and rehabilitation for the child through its welfare services.
“We have handled similar cases in the past and successfully taken care of such children. However, this practice of abandoning babies must stop because it endangers their lives,” she said.
Fidelis David
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