Lagos Government Rescues Malnourished Child Allegedly Abandoned Over Witchcraft Claim
The Lagos State Government has rescued a young child who was allegedly abandoned and left in severe neglect over claims that she was a witch.
The case came to public attention after a disturbing video went viral on social media, showing the child in a visibly weak and malnourished state. In the footage, the toddler—reportedly about three years old—was seen wearing only a diaper and drinking from what appeared to be an unclean container.
The video was first shared by an X user, who raised alarm over the child’s condition and called for urgent intervention, claiming the mother had abandoned her based on witchcraft accusations. The post quickly sparked outrage online and prompted calls for authorities to step in.
In the message, the user alleged that neighbours in the Ipaja area of Lagos raised concerns after noticing that the child had been left unattended for a prolonged period under harsh conditions.
Although the claims could not be independently verified at the time, the viral nature of the video triggered swift response from government officials.
Reacting to the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media, Ridwan Ajetunmobi, confirmed that the state government had intervened and rescued the child.
According to him, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, alongside his team, traced the reported address and moved in to secure the child.
He added that the child has now been placed in the custody of the state government, while the police have commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the case.
Authorities say further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
