A good Samaritan has rescued an abandoned newborn baby girl found alive near Ashar Forest in Wuese community, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.

The baby, believed to have been abandoned by an unknown person, was reportedly wrapped in clothes and placed inside a carton. Maggots were allegedly found around the infant, while a foul smell emanated from the carton.

The newborn was discovered on Saturday, August 29, 2026, by a passerby, Mrs Mbakasev Yisa, who immediately alerted the police outpost in the area.

An eyewitness and councillor representing the area, Terkumbur Mbaukaan, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Makurdi on Sunday, said he visited the scene to assess the condition of the baby.

According to him, the police documented the discovery and directed that the infant be taken immediately to a medical facility for urgent treatment.

He said the baby's condition was so critical that the first clinic they approached could not admit her.

The infant was subsequently taken to Dooshima Clinic in Wuese, where she is currently receiving treatment and being fed with glucose and NAN infant formula as medical personnel work to stabilise her condition.

Mbaukaan said medical tests had been conducted on the baby, adding that she remained under observation in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit due to her exposure to harsh external conditions shortly after birth.

He said he had made a financial contribution towards the baby's upkeep and appealed to individuals, humanitarian organisations, community leaders and government agencies to support her treatment and welfare.

“We are managing the situation at our own level as a community. We have even told those police officers attached to the police outpost here in our community not to take the matter to the Divisional Police Office in Tse-Agbaragba yet, because we are following up the matter,” he said.

He added that efforts were being made to inform the local government council chairman about the incident.

The community's youth leader, Udigi Waya, also confirmed the rescue of the newborn and expressed concern over her condition.

Waya estimated that the baby might have spent about three days in the forest before she was rescued.

However, the Benue State Police Command said it had yet to receive an official report on the incident.

The command's spokesperson, Peter Aondongu, said he had contacted the Divisional Police Officer in Konshisha, who also said he was unaware of the incident.

“I have called the DPO of Konshisha Local Government Area and he told me that he is not aware of such a situation yet. So, I will still call him and get back to the press,” he said.

The identity of the baby's mother, the circumstances surrounding the birth and the reason for the abandonment remained unknown.