- The Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, confirmed the incident
- He expressed sadness over the incident, vowing to take proper legislative action to curb the scourge of babies abandonment
An abandoned 1-day-old baby has been found dead after he was submerged in and swept away by a flood.
The incident happened at Ikot Ishie community in the Calabar Municipality Council of Cross River State.
The Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, confirmed the incident.
He expressed sadness over the incident, vowing to take proper legislative action to curb the scourge of babies abandonment.
The speaker who was at the scene after the baby had died said stricter penalties against individuals involved in baby abandonment and such heinous acts would be enacted.
He stressed that such legislation would stop those planning to commit such a crime in the future and reduce the occurrence of the incidents.
Addressing the public at the scene, the speaker said, “The state house of assembly is considering legislative measures to address the crime of baby abandonment in parts of the state.”
He reminded everyone of how sacred every life is, especially the most vulnerable among us.
Ayambem expressed deep concern over the loss of innocent life and the growing rate of infant abandonment in the city.
He said children are gifts from God and deserve the chance to live, grow, and flourish.
“This heartbreaking incident is a stark reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
“No child should ever have to face such a tragic fate,” he declared.
He called on the community to unite and take action to put an end to such dastardly acts.
Residents of the Ikot Ishie community in the Calabar Municipality Council had raised the alarm and drawn the attention of the speaker who lives close by when they noticed the baby in the flood before he died.
The onlookers believed that the baby was left by the roadside under the rain which swept him.