14 day-old abandoned baby battling for survival in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A

 14 day old child dumped in a farm by yet to be identified mother in Adaka area of Makurdi, Benue State capital is battling for survival.

The baby girl, it was gathered was picked up by a good Samaritan names; Joy Kwatse along a path leading to her farm on 26th October,2021 at about 12 noon.

In an interview with our Correspondent, Joy narrated that it was a pathetic scene when she picked up the child.

According to her, the baby was tied in a black linen bag almost suffocating as she had been drenched by a heavy rainfall and eaten up by soldier ants.

“I own a farm around Adaka. On this fateful day 26th October,2021, I had gone to check my farm and saw something tied in a black linen bag on a path to the farm. I did  not know what it was but the sight of it from afar instantly gripped me with fear.

“I thought it was a snake because it moved. I was afraid, I did not go close but decided to go to the roadside and beckon on passersby. I called an okada man but he was too afraid to go close and quickly fled.

“Then I summoned courage clutched my scapular and dragged the bag . Then I diacovered that it was a child struggling for survival. She had mud all over her body even as soldier ants had eaten her head, face and buttocks.

“Amidst her decaying and smelly body I picked and wrapped her. I proceeded to D Division Police station in Ankpa quarters where I was referred to the Command headquarter.

“There, they took my statement and told me to take the baby to the hospital for immediate medical treatment. Then, I went to my sister called ‘Mama Nigeria’ who wasted no time in involving a security aide to Governor Samuel Ortom, Tughgba Nightfall. And courtesy of the aide, we ended up at Olive Vine Children Health center located at SS8 Kwararafa Quarters off Atiku Abubakar Road, Makurdi.”