Onitsha - Dr Peter Katchy, Anambra Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross,
has confirmed that a baby girl that was abandoned in a tricycle on
Friday in Onitsha is currently under the care of the organisation.
Katchy told newsmen on Saturday in Onitsha that the three-month-old
baby had been taken to the Red Cross Motherless Babies Home in Ontisha.
He said that a tricycle (Keke Napep) operator in Onitsha brought the
case of the abandoned baby to the attention of the Red Cross on Friday
Katchy also said that a woman was at the Onitsha office of the Red Cross on Saturday laying claim to the baby.
"I directed those at the office to tell her to come with her husband
and proof of ownership of the baby to Red Cross Headquarters in Awka
and to go to Anambra Ministry of Women Affairs on Monday for
investigation,’’ Katchy said.
An eyewitness quoted Samuel Nwigwe, a Keke Napep operator, as
saying that he discovered the baby when he had closed work for the day
and was relaxing over some bottles of beer with friends near Ochanja
Park in Onitsha.
He said that at a point, Nwigwe suddenly peeped into his Keke Napep
only to discover to his chagrin that a baby girl of about three months
was lying inside a bag at the back of his tricycle.
"He then called his friends and other passers-by, who thronged the scene to catch a glimpse of the abandoned baby girl.
"After some hours of bewilderment as to who the owner of the baby
could be and the reason for abandoning the baby, Nwigwe took her to the
Red Cross Centre in Onitsha,’’ he said.
Benjamin Wordu, Police Area Commander for Onitsha, told newsmen
via telephone that he was not aware of the incident as of the time of
sending this report.
- NAN