Abandoned Newborn Found Dead on Anambra Church Grounds
The lifeless body of a day-old baby was discovered on the premises of a church (name withheld) located on Engr Chukelu Street, Ububa South, Nkpor Agu, in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It remains unclear whether the baby girl was abandoned alive or dead, but according to local residents, the body was found early Monday morning, sparking suspicions that it may have been left there late Sunday night.
The discovery caused a stir in the community, with many residents gathering at the scene. A video currently circulating on social media shows the location where the baby was abandoned, covered with dried plantain leaves. In the video, a male voice, identifying himself as the Chief Security Officer of Nkpor community, appeals to anyone with information about the baby’s mother to come forward and assist the police in their investigation.
The Chief Security Officer stated, “I had the unfortunate duty of examining the body of a one-day-old girl abandoned at a church premises on Engr Chukelu Street, Ububa South, Nkpor Agu. Anyone with information about this act should come forward to assist the police.”
The incident has been reported to the Ogidi Police Division. When our correspondent visited the area on Wednesday, a group of residents was still gathered around the site, discussing the incident.
Local security personnel were called to the scene after the abandoned baby was discovered. According to the community’s Chief Security Officer, Chris Udeze, efforts to trace the mother have so far been unsuccessful.
Udeze said, “We were alerted on Monday morning and arrived to find the lifeless body of what appeared to be a one-day-old baby, covered with leaves. We suspect the baby was abandoned late Sunday night, though we cannot confirm whether it was abandoned alive or already dead. After inspecting the scene, we contacted the Ogidi Police Division, who also visited the area for further examination.”
He added that the police directed the evacuation of the baby’s body, and the investigation is ongoing. Community members have been urged to watch for any lactating women who may have recently given birth without the baby in their care, which could help in identifying the mother.
Another resident, identified as Nkechi, speculated that the baby may have been abandoned by a woman who became pregnant out of wedlock. “It’s possible the baby was left alive, but the cold may have led to its death. This is the first time we’ve seen something like this happen here,” she said.The abandoned baby was found in a corner of the church premises, which is unfenced and ungated.
When contacted on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, expressed surprise at the incident, stating, “Very unfortunate. I will escalate this to the Area Commander for proper investigation.”
A police source from the Ogidi Police Division, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the body had been found and subsequently buried. The source also noted that the investigation has begun, and locals have been asked to report any lactating mothers whose babies are missing.
