A newborn baby girl has been rescued after she was allegedly abandoned inside a carton at Wuese village, Mbawar Council Ward of Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
The baby, who was found wrapped in clothes and in critical health condition, was discovered by a resident of the community, Mbakasev Yisa, while the whereabouts of her mother remain unknown.
Narrating the incident to journalists in Makurdi, the councillor representing Mbawar Council Ward, Gabriel Mbaukaan, said Yisa immediately reported the discovery to the police for prompt action.
Mbaukaan said police officers who arrived at the scene documented the incident and directed that the baby be taken to a medical facility for urgent treatment.
He said the infant was initially taken to a clinic but could not be admitted because of 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 upkeep and appealed to medical personnel to ensure that she receives continuous and effective treatment.
“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.
He said members of the community were doing their best to manage the situation while efforts continued to ensure the infant’s recovery.
“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 Command’s spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, who confirmed this to LEADERSHIP on telephone, said he would contact the Divisional Police Officer in Konshisha Local Government Area to obtain details of the incident.
“I will contact the DPO in the area over the incident and get back to you,” he said.
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