A housewife, identified as Barikisu Sulaiman, has been arrested in Lokoja, Kogi State, for allegedly throwing her newborn baby boy into a gutter. The tragic incident, which has shocked the local community, occurred on Sunday, and the suspect is currently in custody with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The arrest followed a tip-off from a close friend of Barikisu, who revealed the situation to a local elder after being moved by the condition of the abandoned baby. According to sources, Barikisu had been involved in an extramarital affair with a man residing in Adankolo after her husband, who suffers from a spinal cord injury, became incapacitated.
Barikisu confessed that she threw the infant into the gutter shortly after delivering him at home due to the overwhelming guilt of cheating on her ill husband. She explained that her lover, identified as Angulu Namama, who is currently at large, had rejected the pregnancy and advised her to terminate it.
The newborn, found alive and healthy in the gutter near Karaworo, was rescued last week by concerned residents. Barikisu was later handed over to the NSCDC by the Ministry of Women Affairs in Kogi State.
Kogi State NSCDC Commandant, Paul Igwebuike, confirmed that Barikisu is in custody, stating, “She became pregnant out of wedlock and, due to the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy, threw the baby from upstairs. We are collaborating with the Ministry of Women Affairs to address this case and ensure justice.”
