Panic and outrage gripped residents of Gboko in Benue State on Friday following the discovery of a dead newborn baby dumped along Rice Mill Road.
Eyewitnesses said the lifeless infant was spotted in the early hours by passersby, triggering shock and emotional reactions from people in the area.
Many residents gathered at the scene, expressing anger and sadness over what they described as a “heartbreaking and inhuman act.”
“It is painful. How can someone do this to a newborn?” a resident lamented, calling on the authorities to act swiftly.
The development has once again brought to the fore recurring concerns over cases of abandoned babies in parts of the country, often blamed on economic hardship, stigma, and lack of social support.
Residents have called for a thorough investigation to uncover those behind the act and prevent a recurrence.
As of the time of filing this report, officials of the police and other relevant agencies were yet to issue an official statement on the incident, as calls to the Spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, were not returned.
