Bauchi Police Commences Probe into A Day Old Baby Dumped In Refuse Bin
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI – The Bauchi State Police Command has launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to the dumping of a one-day old child in a refuse dump at Gwallameji area of Bauchi metropolis.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Wakili, who confirmed the discovery of the decaying newly born baby abandoned by yet to be identified woman, said investigation has begun with a view to uncover the culprit for possible prosecution under the relevant laws of the country.
The PPRO, told our correspondent in a telephone interview, saying; “Yes, it is true that an abandoned baby was found this morning at Gwallameji area and the community informed the Yelwa Divisional Police Station.
“Our men went there and took pictures and discovered that the baby has started decaying. We have launched an investigation into the matter and efforts are on to identify and arrest the culprit so that she can face the full wrath of the law.”
The residents of Gwallameji area in Bauchi State capital work up on Thursday morning only to be confronted with the sad discovery of a child dumped in a refuse with her umbilical cord and the placenta still tied to the baby.
Abubakar Idris, who first discovered the baby, said he went to the scene with his brother to pick waste plastics when he saw the baby in the refuse.
Idris said; “Immediately, I called my brother to come and see but he refused and ran away from the place. We saw a man walking and we called him and told him what we saw. He went to the place and saw the baby. I went and called our neighbour and my mother, who came to see what I had told them. When I saw the baby, I became weak and my body began to shake and I felt like falling down and I had to sit down so I don’t fall.”
Speaking on the development, the Sarkin Gwallameji, Sanusi Sani, said he was called by his Commander whose house is close to where the baby was found.
He said; “Honestly, I was very sad beyond words over what I heard and what I also came and saw with my eyes here. A similar thing like this happened some years back when we found a new born baby in a well with water.
“This is not a good thing because so many people have been in need of children but here we are seeing a baby which God gave to someone but she threw her here allowing her to die showing her ingratitude to God for the gift. Honestly, my whole community and I are not happy about this.”
Sani said that from their investigations, most babies that have been found in the Gwallameji area were brought from other places and dumped there and therefore appealed to the people to report any suspicious acts by young ladies who have been found to be in the habit of doing such.
He further said; “I want to appeal to the people generally to know that this is a bad and wicked thing to do with what God gives us. If this child had come through a legitimate way, there is no way they will throw this child away, but from what we suspect, this child didn’t come from a legitimate way of marriage, because couples will want people to celebrate with them when they are blessed with children.
“They should report any pregnant woman they know is not married, so that we will forestall this kind of recurrence”.
The Community Leader said that he immediately informed the Yelwa Divisional Police Headquarters about the incident and they also sent some of their men to the place.
He said that the community had started investigating the matter to see if they will know where the baby was brought from and who threw away the baby.
“We have informed all our commanders around including Rafin Zurfi area to investigate to see if they will find out any lady that was pregnant and that pregnancy and cannot explain the whereabouts of the baby.
According to him; “Even though the Polytechnic is not in session and students are not around, but this wouldn’t stop us from doing our investigation and inquiries in the households around to see if we will get the culprit.”
The dead baby has been buried on the directive of the Sarkin Gwallameji.
