The Gombe State Police Command has recovered a newborn allegedly abandoned by an unidentified woman in a commercial tricycle, authorities said on Friday.

According to the command’s spokesman, Buhari Abdullahi, the incident occurred on September 9 when a tricycle operator, Auwal Abdullahi, discovered the infant concealed in a carton.

Abdullahi told police that a woman had boarded his tricycle at Madaki Quarters, carrying the carton, and instructed him to stop at YD Filling Station Junction in BCGA Quarters, claiming she needed to withdraw money from a nearby PoS.

“The tricyclist waited for her, but the woman did not return. He then checked the carton and discovered a baby inside,” Abdullahi said.

The newborn was immediately handed over to the Gombe State Social Welfare Department. Police confirmed that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the abandonment are ongoing.

Abdullahi urged tricycle and taxi operators to closely monitor passengers and luggage to prevent similar incidents.

In a related case, police also rescued a three-month-old infant from three suspects attempting to escape with the child.

The suspects were apprehended at the Trailer Park, Tumfure, in Akko Local Government Area, and are expected to face court charges after the investigation is concluded.

Abdullahi added that 14 other suspects have been detained in connection with alleged rape, criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, and robbery across the state.

He called on residents to report suspicious persons and activities to security agencies to support ongoing crime prevention efforts. (Saturday Guardian)