A baby girl abandoned at about 11:30pm on Friday, by her mother in a biscuit carton near Eco Bank, along Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, died around 11:58am on Saturday, after many hours of
crying for help and battling for survival.
Okon Isaac, a resident of the area, said the baby became pale after a long period of crying for her mum’s comfort before passing out. He said he wanted to check if Total Filling Station in the area had begun to sell fuel when he heard a baby cry near the refuse bin.
He said he was perplexed and had to suspend buying fuel and kept watch over the baby since 5:47am thinking that the mother might change her mind and come back for the baby. He stated that the baby’s cry from the carton drew the attention of a large number of people.
He added that people were scared to touch the baby to avoid being accused by the police of trying to steal or kidnap the baby. His words: “We live in a period of child theft and selling of children for money, people were scared to touch the baby.
They all stood helpless, should anyone risk lifting the baby, and the police happen to be around, the individual can be accused of child theft, or whatever.” A Punchng correspondent eventually called the police emergency number to inform them of the abandoned baby.
The police however said they were aware of the situation and had contacted the Ministry of Environment for necessary action. It was observed that till the baby died, neither the police nor officials of the Ministry of Environment were present at the scene.
