By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
A day-old baby dumped in a pit latrine by its 20-year-old mother has been rescued alive after 48 hours at Otuocha, Anambra East Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Mother of the baby, Nwaedoka Chidimma, 20, of Izzi, Ebonyi State, was working as a hired worker on a farm when she was pressed .
She reportedly went to use the pit latrine while on the farm, but returned with blood dripping under her.
The incident occurred last Sunday and the baby had been in the dark and cold pit latrine for about 48 hours.
The baby was, however, rescued on Tuesday after several residents said they heard the voice of a baby from the pit latrine.
One Esther, who’s a farmer, said she had told the lady to remain in her house for a few days so that she could complete the farming job she had acquired in the area.
“After spending time in the toilet, she came out with drops of blood. I thought she had a stillbirth and I quickly invited a nurse who disclosed that the baby was gone after examining her.
“I encouraged her to travel back home to her parents and notify them of the development because I thought she had a stillbirth.
“It was on Tuesday when we started hearing a baby’s cry that we quickly used a ladder to climb down the pit, rescued the newborn baby, and immediately alerted security agencies and the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare,” she narrated.
Ify Obinabo, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare of the state, transported the newborn to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, for care, and the perpetrator was later arrested.
Obinabo said that the baby was well and undergoing treatment at the hospital, while the mother is being detained.
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