A newborn baby girl has been rescued alive after she was allegedly abandoned inside a carton near Ashar Forest in Wuese community, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
The identity of the baby’s mother and the circumstances surrounding the birth remain unknown.
The infant was reportedly discovered on Saturday by a passerby, Mrs Mbakasev Yisa, who found her wrapped in clothes and abandoned inside the carton.
Councillor representing the area, Gabriel Mbaukaan, said the baby was in critical condition when she was found, with maggots reportedly crawling around her body and a foul smell coming from the carton.
Mbaukaan said Yisa immediately alerted the police outpost in the community, after which officers visited the scene, documented the discovery and directed that the baby be taken to a medical facility.
He said, “As a councillor representing the area, I visited the scene to personally assess the situation and ascertain the condition of the abandoned child.”
He explained that the first clinic they approached could not admit the baby because of her critical condition.
“We later took her to Dooshima Clinic in Wuese, Konshisha LGA, where she is being treated and fed with glucose and NAN infant formula as medical personnel work to stabilise her,” he said.
According to Mbaukaan, medical tests have been conducted on the baby, who remains under observation in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
He said he had contributed financially towards the child’s upkeep and appealed to individuals, humanitarian organisations, community leaders and government agencies to assist with her treatment and welfare.
“I have made a financial donation towards the child’s upkeep and appealed to the medical personnel to ensure that the infant receives continuous and effective treatment,” he said.
“I am using this opportunity to appeal to individuals, humanitarian organisations, community leaders, government agencies and other people of goodwill to support the baby’s treatment and welfare.”
Mbaukaan said the community was doing its best to care for the child while efforts were being made to contact the local government chairman.
Youth leader of Wuese community, Udigi Waya, also confirmed the rescue and expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the abandonment.
Waya said the baby might have spent about three days in the forest before she was discovered.
According to him, the infant’s cry was the only indication that she was still alive when the carton was opened.
However, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he had not received any official report on the incident.
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