The police in Ogun State have arrested a 30-year-old woman, Risikat
Olabintan, for allegedly throwing her day-old baby into a soakaway in
Owode-Yewa in Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.
Police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said her arrest
followed a report by members of Ibukun Oluwapo community, Ishaga
Surulere area in Owode-Yewa, that some children playing in their
backyard heard the cry of a baby from the soak-away and raised an
alarm.
“On receiving the information, the DPO Owode-Yewa, Sp Olabisi Elebute
quickly led a team of policemen to the scene where the baby was
rescued with the assistance of members of the public,” Oyeyemi said in
a statement.
The police spokesperson said investigation later revealed that Ms
Olabintan gave birth secretly to the baby and threw him inside the
soak-away at about 5 a.m.
“On interrogation, she made a confessional statement that she actually
gave birth to the baby which is the sixth of her children and that she
has no means of feeding them all since her husband has absconded to an
unknown destination for quite some time now,” he stated.
Oyeyemi said both the baby and the mother are presently in the
hospital for medical attention and the baby is responding to
treatment.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, had directed the
case transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit
of the State for proper investigation.
