Police Arrests Sales girl For Dumping day Old Baby By the Road side in Lagos

A salesgirl, Ifunanya Eme, has been arrested by the
police in the Ajangbadi area of Lagos State, for allegedly
dumping her day-old baby girl by the roadside.
Punch correspondents learnt that Eme, who hails from
Enugu State, was arrested on Tuesday by policemen at
the Ilemba Hausa division, after residents of Solimo
Street raised the alarm.
Eme, who was brought to the Lagos State Police
Command headquarters, Ikeja, on Thursday, told Punch
Metro that she dumped her day-old baby because her
lover abandoned her, adding that she had no means of
taking care of the child.
Punch correspondents gathered that 31-year-old Eme
met her lover, identified only as John, who worked as a
contract worker with a company in the area, in March
2015.
It was learnt that Eme, who lived with her elder sister in
Ajangbadi, informed John early 2016 that she was
pregnant.
Punch Metro learnt that John ended the relationship,
fled the area and allegedly switched off his mobile
phone. It was gathered that Eme was delivered of the
baby girl on Monday in her house and wrapped her in a
polythene bag.
The suspect allegedly sneaked out of the house and
went out to dump the polythene bag by the roadside
around 1am on Tuesday.
Residents were said to have woken up to the sight of
the baby, after which the police were alerted and the
baby was traced to Eme. She was subsequently
arrested. The baby was said to have been rescued and
is currently receiving medical attention.
Speaking with Punch Metro, Eme said she had not been
able to reach John after she informed him that she was
pregnant.
She said, “I am not married. I work as a salesgirl at a
supermarket at Church bus stop in Ajangbadi. I met
John last year and we started dating.
“When I discovered that I was pregnant early this year, I
called John and he said he was travelling and he was
not prepared to take care of any child. Since then, he
had not come to see me, and his mobile phone number
had been switched off.
“I was delivered of the baby at home on Monday
because I could not afford hospital bill. I am an orphan.
So, when John left me, I did not have parents that I
could give the baby to. I therefore decided to dump her
by the roadside where kind-hearted people could pick
her up.
“When some neighbours found her, they reported at the
police station and the baby was traced to me. It was
poverty that forced me to abandon the girl by the
roadside.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Owoseni, said
after the baby had received medical attention, she would
be transferred to the appropriate government agency for
rehabilitation.
He said, “The woman was arrested in connection with
the abandonment of a baby. She told the police that she
abandoned the baby because she did not know the
father of the child.
“The baby has been taken into police custody and she
is receiving medical care. The suspect is with us and
investigation is ongoing. The baby will be taken to the
appropriate government agency for rehabilitation.