Abandoned newborn baby discovered inside bag with note in Anambra community

A newborn baby was found abandoned with a handwritten note from the supposed mother at a shop in Umuodu village, Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. 

The baby was discovered inside a tote bag by a nurse, Mrs. Mercy Iloanya, when she went to her own shop along Pope John Paul Seminary School Street on Sunday, February 1, 2026. 

According to Iloanya, she immediately called the attention of a man she saw along the street, who confirmed that the baby was alive before they alerted Mrs. Chika Onyema, who owns the shop.

Mrs Onyema told Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, that when they opened the bag, they saw a written note accompanying the baby in which the mother appealed to her to help take care of the child.

Good Samaritans who gathered to witness the situation quickly contributed baby items, while mostly women gasped in awe as they wondered why someone would do such a thing.

ABS took the baby to Anambra Police B Division, where an entry was made, and afterwards took the child to the Intensive Care Unit at the Mother and Child Department of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, at the instance of the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare.