In a remarkable turn of events, a courageous rescue unfolded as the cries of a newborn echoed from a pit toilet in Otuocha community, Anambra State. Nwaedoka Chidimma, a 20-year-old from Ebonyi State, reportedly took the shocking step of discarding her baby in the pit toilet while working on a farm assignment.
The heart-wrenching incident took place on a Sunday, but it wasn’t until Tuesday that the infant’s cries were heard by vigilant residents. This swift response led to the miraculous retrieval of the baby, bringing an end to the newborn’s harrowing ordeal.
Esther, a compassionate local, revealed that Chidimma, pregnant at the time, had sought farm work in the community. The situation took a dire turn when Chidimma returned from the pit toilet, visibly in distress and bearing signs of bleeding. Esther, who had offered her a temporary stay, immediately reached out to a nurse, only to discover the unimaginable truth – the baby was no more.
Assuming a stillbirth had occurred, Esther encouraged Chidimma to return home and inform her family. However, fate had other plans. Days later, the sound of a baby’s cry pierced through the pit’s darkness, prompting a swift rescue mission. With the newborn safely out of the pit, authorities were notified, and the baby was promptly taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
Ify Obinabo, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, expressed her deep concern over the incident, highlighting the alarming rate at which young girls are involved in such crimes. She stressed that justice would be pursued in this case and affirmed the state governor’s zero-tolerance stance on such heartrending acts.
This tale of bravery and resilience serves as a stark reminder that even in the face of adversity, there are those willing to step up and safeguard the innocent, ensuring that justice prevails.