Residents have rescued a newborn baby boy allegedly abaπdoned in an uncompleted building at a mining site in Naraguta community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The baby, whose umbilical cord was still attached, was discovered on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at a site along Ardo Lane.

According to sources who spoke to Punch in Jos on Monday, October 19, the discovery was made after children playing around the uncompleted building heard the baby crying and alerted the family of Lukman Yusuf Wayas.

The family reportedly contacted security operatives, who evacuated the newborn to a hospital for medical attention.

Recounting the incident, Wayas said he first heard the sound of a baby crying at about 11 p.m. on Saturday but assumed it was a newborn in a neighbouring household.

However, when children heard the cries again the following morning, they alerted the family, prompting them to seek assistance.

“When the children heard the cry again this morning, they alerted us, and we immediately informed security operatives, who took the baby to the hospital for medical attention,” Wayas said.

He added that they later returned to the scene alongside a health worker and discovered what appeared to be the remains of the placenta.

“We later returned to the scene with a health worker and discovered remains of the placenta, which suggested that the baby was delivered at that location,” he stated.

The Ardo of Yanjin, Aliko Sa’adu, confirmed the incident and disclosed that similar cases had reportedly occurred in the community in the past.

He called on the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the baby’s abaπdonment and identify the mother.

“We have reported the matter to the relevant authorities to investigate and identify the mother of the child. We want them to establish what happened and reunite the baby with the mother where possible,” Sa’adu said.

The community leader stressed that the newborn’s safety and welfare should remain a priority while investigations continued.

The incident has raised concerns about newborn abandonment and the circumstances that may lead parents or guardians to leave infants in unsafe locations. Authorities are expected to investigate the case and determine the appropriate next steps for the baby’s care and protection.