Woman dumps 2-day-old baby in Edo IDP camp
A woman has reportedly dumped a two-day-old baby boy under a mango tree within the premises of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, also known as Home for the Needy, in Uhogua area in Ovia South West LGA of Edo State.
It was gathered that the baby who was discovered on Friday at about 11pm is receiving medical care in the camp’s clinic.
Confirming the incident, the camp’s Coordinator, Pastor Folorunho, said the baby’s mother left a note beside the baby, saying she could not take care of him.
He said the note read in part: “Please help me take care of him. I cannot take care of him because I don’t have anything, and I can’t kill him.’’
Folorunsho appealed to the mother of the child not to be afraid but to come out so that the baby could be given breast milk, adding that they would support her and the baby.
He further said, “We could mobilise to raise and rent a house for her (mother), help with food and other things since she said the reason for her action is because she cannot take care of the child. If she has support, I am sure she will be able to take care of the baby.”
He disclosed that meanwhile in the absence of the mother, the home was ready to take care of the child and train him like other children in the camp who were also brought in quite young.
Folorunsho also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to assist the child with clothes, food and other nutrition items.
He added that the incident had been reported to the Ministry of Women Affairs, police and Department of State Services (DSS).