The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kogi State has apprehended a woman, Barkisu Sulaiman, who allegedly dumped her day-old baby in a gutter. The infant was discovered abandoned on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
According to reports, the arrest followed a tip-off from a close confidant of Sulaiman, who was moved by the plight of the abandoned child. The friend confided in an elderly resident of Karaworo-Lokoja, revealing that Sulaiman had confessed to her about being impregnated by her husband's servant while her husband, who suffers from a spinal cord injury, remains incapacitated.
The source said, “Touched by the condition of the abandoned baby, her friend ran to an elderly man in the area and disclosed Barkisu's confession. She relayed that Barkisu had expressed to her that she was seven months pregnant with a child fathered by one of her husband’s sick servants.”
The alleged father is reportedly at large and had previously rejected Sulaiman's pregnancy, urging her to seek an abortion instead. Following the revelation, community members took matters into their own hands, confronting Sulaiman before handing her over to the NSCDC.
Upon her arrest, Sulaiman confessed to abandoning the infant, stating, “I threw my one-day-old baby into the gutter because I cheated on my sick husband.”
Paul Igweibuke, the Kogi commandant of the NSCDC, confirmed the arrest, explaining that Sulaiman had been married to another man with whom she has six children. He emphasized the need for accountability and support for women in similar situations, stating, “We are working closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure that such incidents do not repeat in our state.”
Sulaiman is currently in custody while authorities investigate the case further, aiming to foster a safer environment for children and families in the community.
