Residents of Tudun Tagarji in Kano State were thrown into shock on Saturday after discovering a newborn baby abandoned in a carton near a drainage in the Kaura area of the state.
Punch learnt this from a statement issued on Sunday by the leader of the Operation Zaman Lafiya vigilante group, Commander Rabiu Sulaiman.
He said his team stumbled upon the disturbing scene during a routine patrol around 2 a.m.
“Yesterday, around 2 a.m., while we were on patrol, we came across a shocking incident inside a pit very close to us. Upon close observation, we noticed a disposed carton, but we had no idea what was inside it.
“To clear our doubt and be sure nothing harmful was kept there, I instructed my boys to open the carton, and behold, upon opening it, we saw a baby already dead,” Sulaiman revealed.
Following the discovery, the vigilantes alerted community leaders and later reported the case to the police.
“By morning, we invited the ward head to come and see for himself, along with other members of the community, before conveying the baby to the police station and informing them,” he explained.
The police directed them to a hospital, where doctors confirmed the baby was dead.
“We came back home and organised burial rites for the baby in accordance with Islamic teachings,” Sulaiman stated.
The commander however urged vigilante groups to remain vigilant in safeguarding their communities and called on parents to guide their children, particularly young women, to avoid circumstances leading to unwanted pregnancies.
“Unwanted pregnancy contradicts Islamic teachings. Parents must monitor their children’s movements and guide them properly,” he said