A newborn baby girl has been rescued after she was allegedly abandoned in a carton in Ashar Forest, Wuese community, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
The infant was discovered alive on Saturday by a resident, Mrs Mbakasev Yisa, who reportedly heard sounds coming from the carton while passing through the forest.
According to residents, the baby had apparently been in the forest for about three days. She was reportedly wrapped in clothes and placed inside a carton, with maggots found around her body and a foul smell coming from the container.
A councillor representing the area, Terkumbur Gabriel Mbaukaan, confirmed the incident to journalists by telephone in Makurdi on Sunday.
Mbaukaan said the baby was in critical condition when she was found. He added that residents reported the discovery to the police outpost, where officers documented the incident and directed that the infant be taken to a medical facility.
He said the first clinic approached could not admit the baby because of her condition, forcing the rescuers to take her to Dooshima Clinic in Wuese, where she was eventually admitted for treatment.
Yisa, who discovered the child, said residents acted immediately after confirming that the baby was still alive.
The youth leader of Wuese community, Udigi Waya, also confirmed the rescue and said the infant was believed to have spent approximately three days in the forest.
However, the Benue State Police Command said it had not received an official report about the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he contacted the Divisional Police Officer in Konshisha, who told him he was unaware of the case.
The circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the newborn remain unclear, while efforts to establish the identity of the person or persons responsible are expected to follow.
