Lagos rescues abandoned child accused of witchcraft

The Lagos State Government has rescued a young child who was allegedly abandoned and neglected after being accused of practising witchcraft.

The case gained widespread attention following a distressing video that went viral on social media, showing the toddler in a pitiful condition.

In the video, the visibly malnourished child, wearing only a diaper, was seen drinking from a dirty container.

The situation was first highlighted by a social media user, identified as @TheGrandmaBoy on X, who raised concerns about the child’s welfare. In the post, the user alleged that the toddler had been abandoned by her mother, who reportedly accused her of being a witch.

“Concerned neighbours raise alarm concerning a three-year-old toddler that has been literally abandoned by the mother, who believes that she’s a witch and deserves to die,” the post stated.

The user further called on relevant authorities to intervene, sharing a location in the Ipaja area of Lagos and alleging that the child was malnourished and living in unhygienic conditions. However, these claims had not been independently verified at the time.

Reacting to the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media, Ridwan Ajetunmobi, confirmed on Sunday that the state government had stepped in.

He disclosed that the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, led a team to the location identified in the report to verify the situation.

According to him, the child has since been rescued and is now in the care of the Lagos State Government, while the police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Authorities assured that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.