By Amos Harris
A tragic discovery at the Dula Market on Bushrod Island has shocked residents and ignited urgent conversations about social welfare, security, and public morality in Liberia. Early Friday morning, an eight-month-old baby was found lifeless on a garbage dump near the market’s newly constructed facility.
The child’s body was first spotted by market women preparing to set up their stalls. Mary Johnson, a fish seller with over 15 years of experience at the market, recalled the moment. “I was coming to arrange my table to sell my fish when I saw the small baby lying there on the dirt,” she said. “At first, I thought the child was sleeping, but when I got closer, I saw there was no sign of life.”
Other traders confirmed that the baby was likely abandoned sometime before dawn. No suspect or caretaker was seen in the area prior to the discovery. Samuel Kpakah, a resident, expressed his anger, stating, “This is not the first time something terrible like this has happened here. Over the years, we have found newborns abandoned in the market and even in nearby alleys. It’s heartbreaking and shows how bad things have become for some people in our country.”
According to long-time residents, cases of abandoned babies, both alive and deceased, have occurred in and around Dula Market for years. While official statistics are unavailable, locals attribute these tragedies to poverty, teenage pregnancy, broken family structures, and a lack of access to social services.
Dula Market is one of Liberia’s largest and busiest trading centers. However, behind its bustling commerce lies a harsh reality of urban hardship, including high unemployment, overcrowding, and widespread informal settlements with limited basic services. The market is also known for being active late at night, with parts of it serving as hotspots for commercial sex work. Residents believe these conditions, combined with inadequate policing and social welfare support, create an environment where such tragedies can happen unnoticed.
The infant was found near the market’s new building, a facility constructed under former President George M. Weah’s administration to modernize key trading centers. While the new structure has improved trading conditions for some, the surrounding areas, including garbage dumps and unlit spaces, remain vulnerable. Fatu Morris, a trader in the new facility, remarked, “It is sad that right next to this beautiful new market building, something so terrible could happen. We need better security here—police patrols, lights at night, and maybe even social workers who can help young mothers in trouble.”
As of Friday morning, the Liberia National Police (LNP) had not yet issued an official statement. However, community sources say officers visited the scene and transported the remains to a local mortuary. An anonymous police investigator confirmed that a homicide or criminal neglect investigation has been opened. “We are reviewing any possible witnesses, and we will also look at nearby shops or facilities that may have surveillance cameras,” the source said.
Child abandonment remains a serious, yet underreported, issue in Liberia. Child welfare advocates say many cases go uninvestigated due to limited resources, a lack of public reporting mechanisms, and a societal stigma that discourages people from speaking out. Esther Williams, a social worker with a local NGO, emphasized that the tragedy is more than a criminal matter. “It is a humanitarian crisis,” she said. “An eight-month-old baby cannot fend for themselves. Whoever left that child there knew they would not survive. That means we as a society failed somewhere—failed to provide care, shelter, or even a safe place for the mother to turn to.”
Dr. Thomas Jallah, an economist at the University of Liberia, linked the tragedy to broader economic issues. “When we talk about child abandonment, we must link it to the broader picture of economic inequality,” he explained. “Many women in poor urban areas are caught in cycles of dependency and informal work. Without income stability, affordable housing, and accessible childcare, some may make desperate and harmful choices.”
Several residents openly acknowledged that parts of the market are used for transactional sex, often by young women seeking quick cash. This environment, locals say, increases the risk of unwanted pregnancies and situations where young women may be unable or unwilling to care for newborns.
Community leaders and traders are urging a multi-sectoral response involving the police, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, and local NGOs. On Friday morning, a small group of traders gathered at the site where the baby was found, placing flowers and offering prayers. “This child did not deserve this,” said Madam Sarah Doe, a grandmother and market trader. “Even if the mother could not keep the baby, there are people who would have taken care of it. We need to teach our children that life is precious.”
The death of this infant is more than just a tragic headline; it is a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities facing children in Liberia and the urgent need for stronger safety nets.
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