Day-Old Abandoned Baby In Lagos Dies

The shrill cry of an abandoned day-old baby disturbed the quiet ambience of 72 Road Junction, Festac Town, Lagos, last weekend, jolting residents from sleep at about 4a.m.

As early as 6a.m., curious residents thronged the scene,where the baby, wrapped in a piece of wrapper, was discovered.

However, none of them could attend to the wailing child.

The baby, a male, who was on a cream and dotted brown sleeping suit, was reportedly found lying on his tummy.

One of the onlookers was said to have turned the over, only to discover that ants had invaded the toddler’s head, eyes and fingers. His cry was attributed to the ant’s attack.

Out of pity, a woman among the crowd, reportedly brought a clean wrapper and cleaned the ants infested areas on the baby, with other onlookers raining curses on the mother who abandoned and exposed him to the elements.

A visibly angry woman among the crowd screamed: “This is callous. How can a mother carry a pregnancy for nine months only to abandon her baby after birth?

“The insane woman would have taken this baby to the motherless baby’s home. She has sown wickedness and must surely reap same as long as she lives.”

By 9a.m., officials of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, who were contacted, arrived the scene and took the baby away.

It was gathered that the baby later died, with the remains deposited in the morgue.