A baby believed to be about two days old was dumped within the premises of the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Uhogua, near Benin, in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The camp proprietor, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, said an unknown person dumped the baby in the woods surrounding the entrance of the facility at about 11am on Friday, noting that the baby was in dire need of breastfeeding.
He said that the person who dumped the baby left a note pleading that the baby should be taken care of.
Folorunsho said, “We discovered the baby who is about a day or two old in the woods by the entrance of our camp.
“The baby was dumped with a note which read, “please help me take care of him. I cannot take care of him, because I don’t have anything and I don’t want to kill him. Also, he is your own please.”
The coordinator said that the development had been reported to the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Police and the Department of State Service. He also appealed to the mother of the child to reveal herself and said that the child is in need of breastfeeding.
He added, “We have reported the issue to the necessary authorities and I encourage the mother of the child to come out and not be afraid, if not for anything, but for the fact that the baby needs breast milk.
“If she comes forward, we can raise money and rent a house for her, help with food and other things since she said the reason for her action is because she cannot take care of the baby.
“But if the mother chooses to remain anonymous, we are ready to take care of the child and train him like other children here.
Folorunsho also appealed to well meaning Nigerians to assist the child with clothes, foods and other nutrition items.
