A day-old baby was on Saturday picked from a gutter in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
An eyewitness said the baby who was abandoned in the gutter by unknown person was picked after morning downpour in the area.
The incident, it was gathered, occured at Abuja Estate, opposite Government House, Awka.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident.
The PPRO said a “Good Samaritan” resident in the area reported the incident to the Police on Saturday.
He said,” on Saturday a good Samaritan resident at Abuja Estate behind NSCDC office Awka reported at B Division Police Station Awka that on the same date, a day-old baby boy was wrapped up in a cloth and abandoned inside a gutter at same area by unknown person.
“All efforts made to trace the mother of the baby proved abortive. Scene was visited by Police operatives attached to JWC and the baby who is in good health condition was rescued and handed over to “Time to Fort Care Specialist Medical Centre Awka” for safe keeping.”
Mr. Mohammed said the Ministry of Social Welfare Children and Women Affairs had been contacted and the baby would be handed over to the social welfare department for proper care.
The Police Spokesperson said efforts were ongoing to trace the mother of the baby in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
BY SUNNY A. DAVID
