By Hosea Parah
Residents of Naraguta community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State witnessed a bizarre sight of an abandoned newborn male baby, whose umbilical cord was still attached, on Sunday.
Daily NewsCraft reports that the abandoned baby was discovered by children, who were playing around an uncompleted building along Ardo Lane, a mining site in the community, when they heard him crying, and alerted members of the family of Lukman Yusuf Wayas, who subsequently informed security operatives.
It was gathered that the security operatives took the baby to a hospital, where he was attended to by health workers.
Lukman said he had heard the baby crying at about 11pm on Saturday, but assumed that it was from a newborn in a neighbouring family.
“When the children heard the cry in the morning, they alerted us and we immediately informed security operatives who took the baby to the hospital for medical attention.
“We later went back to the place where the baby was found with the health worker and discovered remains of the placenta there. This suggested that the baby was delivered at the location,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Elders’ Association in Angwan Rogo, Rimi, Zinaria and Sabon Layi, Alhaji Yusuf Wayas, has urged parents to pay attention to their families, and ensure that vulnerable members of their communities were adequately protected.
“This is a serious matter and parents need to pay closer attention to what is happening within their families and communities,” he said.
The Ardo of Yanjin, Aliko Sa’adu, said similar incidents had occurred in the community, stressing the need for authorities to investigate the latest case.
“We have reported the matter to the relevant authorities, so that they can investigate and identify the mother of the baby. We want the authorities to establish what happened and, if possible, reunite the baby with the mother,” he said.
He added that the safety and welfare of the newborn should remain the priority while investigations were ongoing.