The Ogun State Government has officially taken custody of a two-day-old baby who was abandoned at Sayedero Market in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, according to Adijat Adeleye, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development.
The baby, who was discovered by a local woman last week and initially handed over to police, became the subject of controversy after the woman who found the infant claimed in viral videos that the child had gone missing following intervention by ministry officials.
In the videos, the woman appealed to the public, saying, "Well-meaning members of society should help me find the child." However, Commissioner Adeleye has firmly refuted these claims, describing them as an attempt to "emotionally blackmail the government and mislead the public."
Speaking to journalists on Thursday in Abeokuta, Adeleye confirmed that the baby is safe and was legally taken into protective custody by the ministry after proper documentation by police authorities. She also addressed the woman's apparent desire to adopt the child.
"We don't normally allow those who know the history of a baby to adopt him or her because of the future. We don't give a child out for adoption in an environment where their stories are known," the Commissioner explained, highlighting the state's adoption protocols designed to protect children's welfare and future.
Adeleye further clarified the state's position on abandoned children, stating: "Any child found in Ogun State belongs to the state government. They are all children of the governor and that's why whenever we are naming them, their surname is that of the governor of the day."
She noted this practice predates the current administration, explaining that children found during previous administrations bear the surnames of former governors Gbenga Daniel or Ibikunle Amosun, while those discovered during the current administration take Governor Dapo Abiodun's surname.
The Commissioner emphasized that strict rules and guidelines govern child adoption in Ogun State, warning that neither orphanages nor individuals have the right to arrange adoptions without ministry approval. She cautioned that unauthorized adoption attempts would be treated as abduction, with offenders facing the full weight of the law.
This case highlights the challenges surrounding child abandonment and adoption processes in Nigeria, where proper channels must be followed to ensure the welfare and protection of vulnerable children.
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