Newborn baby found abandoned inside carton in Benue community
A newborn girl was rescued after being allegedly abandoned inside a carton in Wuese village, located in the Mbawar Council Ward of Konshisha Local Government Area, Benue State.
The infant was discovered wrapped in clothing and in critical condition by a local resident, Mbakasev Yisa. The identity and whereabouts of the mother remain unknown.
Gabriel Mbaukaan, the councillor for Mbawar Council Ward, informed reporters in Makurdi that Yisa promptly reported the incident to the police.
“Officers arrived at the scene to document the incident and instructed that the baby be taken to a medical facility for urgent care,” Mbaukaan said.
Initial attempts to admit the baby to a local clinic were unsuccessful due to the severity of her condition. “Because the baby’s condition was so critical, the first clinic we approached could not admit her. We later took her to Dooshima Clinic in Wuese, where she is currently being treated with glucose and NAN infant formula while medical personnel work to stabilize her,” he added.
Mbaukaan has contributed financially to the baby’s treatment and is seeking additional support from the community. He appealed to individuals, humanitarian organizations, community leaders, government agencies, and other concerned citizens to assist with the infant’s care.
“We are managing the situation at our own level as a community,” Mbaukaan stated. He mentioned that local efforts are being made to ensure the baby receives necessary care while investigations continue to determine the circumstances surrounding her abandonment. He expressed that the police at the local outpost have been instructed not to escalate the matter to the divisional office until the community has determined the next steps.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command indicated it had not yet received an official report regarding the incident. Police Public Relations Officer DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu stated he would reach out to the Divisional Police Officer in Konshisha LGA to gather further details. “I will contact the DPO in the area regarding the incident and provide an update,” he said.
