A newborn baby, a boy, who was discarded into a pit toilet by his own mother, has been successfully rescued alive three days later in Otuocha, situated within the Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Detailing the rescue operation, officials from the Anambra Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Affairs disclosed that the 20-year-old mother, identified as Nwaedoka Chidimma from Izzi, Ebonyi state, had given birth to the baby on Sunday, August 27, 2023, before leaving him in the toilet to perish.
Esther Omesi, a farmer and an acquaintance of Chidimma, revealed that the young mother had requested to stay at her residence temporarily due to an agricultural assignment.
Omesi narrated that Chidimma started behaving strangely on Sunday after complaining about stomach discomfort. She then ventured into the pit toilet ostensibly to relieve herself.
According to Omesi, Chidimma emerged from the toilet after a prolonged duration, her clothes stained with blood.
Omesi promptly contacted a nurse who examined Chidimma and sadly confirmed the baby's absence.
Initially believing that Chidimma had suffered a stillbirth, Omesi encouraged her to return to her family home and inform her parents about the situation.
Surprisingly, on Tuesday morning, August 29, they heard the sound of a baby crying. They promptly utilized a ladder to rescue the newborn from the pit toilet and informed the relevant authorities.
Upon being informed of the incident, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, swiftly intervened. The infant was transported to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka for medical attention, and the mother was apprehended in connection with the incident.
