By Prosper Mene
A heart-wrenching incident which occurred on Wednesday, September 10, has sent shockwaves through the Akwanga community. The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a final-year student accused of abandoning her newborn baby girl in a remote bush area.
The infant, miraculously found alive by alert residents, is now under medical care, while authorities vow to prosecute the suspect following a thorough investigation.
The disturbing event unfolded in the bustling A.A. Koto neighborhood of Akwanga town, near Hope Academy Primary School. According to eyewitness accounts, the newborn was discovered wrapped in a simple cloth and left in a bushy area, exposed to the elements.
Local residents, upon hearing the faint cries of the baby, quickly intervened, rescuing her and rushing her to a nearby medical facility for immediate attention. The child, who appeared to be only hours old, is reported to be in stable condition and receiving proper care.
The mother, identified as a final-year National Certificate in Education (NCE) student at the College of Education in Akwanga, was swiftly apprehended by police with assistance from her friends and schoolmates.
The arrest was confirmed on Thursday by the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, during a briefing in Lafia, the state capital. “The mother of the baby has been identified and arrested,” Nansel stated, citing the command’s commitment to child protection. He added that the Commissioner of Police has ordered the case to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lafia for a detailed probe and subsequent prosecution.
Details surrounding the motive for the alleged abandonment remain under wraps as investigations continue, but sources close to the matter suggest it may be linked to the pressures faced by young students dealing with unplanned pregnancies.
The suspect, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed to protect ongoing legal proceedings, is currently in police custody.
