[UPDATED] Baby Umar found in forest camp, relative runs away

and RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS

Almost a week after two-year-old Umar Ali was reportedly snatched from a relative's home in Quash Trace, Sangre Grande, he was found in good condition in a forested part of Sangre Grande, about a ten-minute drive from where he was taken.

Police said officers of the Eastern Division Task Force and members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team led by Commander Shamshudeen Ayube were searching a forested part of Barker Trace off of Coalmine Road, Sangre Grande, at around 5 pm, after getting information from concerned citizens and residents.

The hunters picked up fresh tracks in the forest because of the wet conditions on the rainy Monday. Following the tracks, they came across boxes of food. No more than 100 feet from where the boxes were found, they found the boy in an encampment.

The encampment, sources told Newsday, was no bigger than a car, with a sheet of galvanise propped up by four branches. There was also a hammock, about four inches off the ground.

When rescuers searched the camp, they found the boy playing in a makeshift play area at the front of the encampment. A male relative ran away on seeing the police.

Police are now searching for him.

Members of Hunters Search and Rescue said, when Umar was taken out of the bush, he had a few scratches and mosquito bites. One of the Hunters Search and Rescue members said Umar emerged from the forest in good health but seemed thirsty, so they gave him water.

Officers took the child to the Sangre Grande Hospital for further examination. Afterwards he was taken to the Sangre Grande Police Station, where he was met by his mother and uncle.

While the mother declined to speak to the media, Newsday was told she met the toddler with open arms and was excited and relieved to see her son after almost a week.

At about 2.30 am on May 23, Umar and his mother were sleeping in bed at home at Quash Trace when the male relative sneaked into their yard and picked the lock on one of the doors to get in.

The boy’s mother told investigators she turned in her sleep and woke to find the male relative standing over the bed, holding Ali in his arms.

An alarm was raised but he managed to escape with the child.

Over the following week, relatives along with Hunters Search and Rescue members spoke with the male relative, hoping to come to a compromise for the boy's safe return. However, they lost contact with him around Thursday last, prompting police and the search and rescue team to intensify their searches.

Ayube said over the course of the week they searched several areas, including Barker Trace, Biche, North Oropouche and Ojoe Road.

"At one point we got information of someone hearing crying in the bushes in San Pedro.

"We went there and searched for three-quarters of the day. We sometimes went the entire day without eating."

He thanked the public for their assistance and encouraged people to continue helping the police in such matters.

One  Eastern Division officer said he was pleased little Umar was found unharmed and commended police and volunteers for their work in finding him.

"We were very worried about this particular incident, but it's a happy ending for all of us.

"We only hope that going forward, other families will seek assistance and get the help they need with whatever troubles they are going through before it can get to this point."

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Almost one week after two-year-old Umar Ali was reportedly snatched from a relative's home, in Quash Trace, Sangre Grande, he was found in good condition in a forested part of Sangre Grande, about a ten-minute drive from where he was taken.

Police said officers of the Eastern Division and members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team were conducting searches in a forested part of Barker Trace off of Coalmine Road, Sangre Grande, at around 5 pm when they stumbled across a makeshift camp where the boy was found.

Police said a male relative who is believed to have taken the boy ran away on seeing the police.

Eastern Division Task Force officers are searching the area for him.

Officers said while Umar appeared to be in satisfactory health, they still took the child to the Sangre Grande Hospital for further examination.

Umar was asleep with his mother at a relatives home in Quash Trace, early on the morning of May, 23, when the relative broke into the house and grabbed him from the bed where he was sleeping.

One officer in the Eastern Division said he was pleased that little Umar was found unharmed and commended the police and volunteers for their work in finding him.

"We were very worried about this particular incident but it's a happy ending for all of us.

"We only hope that going forward, other families will seek assistance and get the help they need with whatever troubles they are going through before it can get to this point."