Police in Khorixas have initiated an investigation after an unidentified man abandoned a baby girl, estimated to be between one and two years old, at the local Shoprite store on Thursday evening.

According to a report filed at the Khorixas charge office, the incident occurred around 5:00 PM on Friday. A 13-year-old girl was seated outside Shoprite when a man dressed entirely in black approached her. He reportedly spoke Otjiherero but is believed to be a Damara speaker. The man handed the baby to the teenager, claiming he would retrieve the child's belongings from his vehicle, but he never returned.

The teenager later informed her father, who took the baby and reported the incident to the police in person.

Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi confirmed the incident, stating that the baby was immediately taken to the hospital for care and observation.

Investigators plan to review CCTV footage from Shoprite on Friday morning in an effort to identify the suspect.

Anyone with information about the man or the child's identity is urged to contact the nearest police station.