MUSA M. BUBA reports how a 30-year-old maid allegedly threw her baby into a soak-away in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, but was rescued
The cases of unwanted pregnancy among young Nigerian girls are alarming and have become source of concern for governments and stakeholders. This is because unwanted pregnancies have led to high rate of abortion or death during and after child birth or babies thrown into toilets in recent times.
Rampant cases
The question that keeps throwing up in peoples’ mind is why would a mother kill her baby after birth? Unfortunately, the development has become so rampant despite that the two major religions in the country (Christianity and Islam) have condemned this in-human practice.
Recently, the residents of Shagari Low-Cost Housing Estate were thrown into shock when the news of one- day -old baby girl that was said to have been thrown into a saok-away got on air.
Rescue of the baby
According to investigations, a man who spoke anonymously said, information reached the neighbours that a maid named Fatima Mohammed who was serving at the residence of one Buba Maina Saleh her one- day- old baby girl into soak-away at Shagari Low Cost Estate, in Damaturu the Yobe, state capital on Tuesday 21st November, 2017.
When the information filtered through, one Haruna Musa, a Plumber was contacted to help in breaking the soak-away, while the the Director Fire Service, Abba Adam, immediately dispatched his rescue team on hearing the news and the baby was evacuated and taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Damaturu, together with the mother. Hauwa Muhammad, the deputy head of Pediatric Unit at the hospital said they have received an instruction that the baby and her mother be kept under the custody of the hospital till further instructions.
Baby’s mother narrates her story
“My name is Fatima Mohammed, a maid in the house of Buba Maina Saleh.
I was feeling stomach pain and when it continued I sought help from an elderly woman around us. Later, I rushed to a near-by soak-away and noticed that a baby was coming out of me and later fell into soak-away” she said.
The maid, who was crying with tears over her cheek, could not entertain further questions. She refused to tell who is the responsible for the pregnancy when asked how she came by the baby, but keep saying it was not intentional that the baby fell into the soak-away.
Arrest by police
When the Yobe state Police Commissioner, Mr. Sumonu Abdulmaliki, was contacted, he confirmed the incident. “Today, Tuesday 21st November, 2017, my men reported an incident of one accused lady who was said to have thrown her baby into a soak-away. The suspect has been arrested and investigations are ongoing, we will give you details in due course whether she is in her senses or not” he said.
Parents of the suspect
Efforts to speak with the parents of the suspect who live at Ajari ward of Damaturu, proved abortive as they could not be reached to tell Blueprint their side of the story.
Way forward
In order to curb this menace parents, governments at all levels and members of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), should ensure that trend of unwanted pregnancies and abandon babies is arrested
Also, lawmakers across the country should hasten up on legislation against dumping of babies.
Parents, religious and community leaders should stand firm to sensitize the society by preaching, holding seminars and workshops on the repercussion of such an illegal act i.e, abortion or killing of infants immediately after birth.
It should be emphasized that as Nigerians we should not borrow cultures from foreign nations especially, California where they have “safe surrender” law which allows mothers to relinquish their babies and no question is being asked as far as it does not exceeds 72 hours from birth.
