A newborn baby girl has been rescued after she was allegedly abandoned inside a carton in Wuese village, Mbawar Council Ward of Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
The baby, who was reportedly found wrapped in clothes and in critical condition, was discovered by a resident of the community, Mbakasev Yisa. The whereabouts of the baby’s mother remain unknown.
The councillor representing Mbawar Council Ward, Gabriel Mbaukaan, who narrated the incident to journalists in Makurdi, said Yisa immediately reported the discovery to the police.
According to him, police officers who arrived at the scene documented the incident and directed that the baby be taken to a medical facility for urgent treatment.
Mbaukaan said the infant was initially taken to a clinic but could not be admitted due to the severity of her condition.
“Because the baby’s condition was so critical, the first clinic we approached could not admit the child. 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.
The councillor said he had made a financial donation towards the baby’s treatment and upkeep and appealed to medical personnel to ensure that she receives adequate care.
He also called on individuals, humanitarian organisations, community leaders, government agencies and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the infant’s treatment and welfare.
“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.
According to him, members of the community are making efforts to ensure the baby receives the necessary care while attempts are made to establish the circumstances surrounding her abandonment.
“We are managing the situation at our own level as a community. We have even told the police officers attached to the police outpost here not to take the matter to the divisional office in Tse-Agbaragba yet because we are following up the matter. We will do our best to ensure that the newborn baby gets well,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command said it had yet to receive an official report on the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, said he would contact the Divisional Police Officer in Konshisha LGA to obtain details of the incident.
“I will contact the DPO in the area over the incident and get back to you,” he said.
Newborn baby found abandoned inside carton in Benue community