Nkpor Agu, Anambra State – A newborn baby, suspected to be just a day old, was found dead on the premises of an unnamed church on Engr Chukelu Street, Ububa South, Nkpor Agu, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The baby’s exact time of death and whether she was alive when left at the church remains unclear. However, local residents reported that the body was discovered early Monday morning, suggesting it may have been abandoned late Sunday night.
The discovery caused a significant commotion in the community, drawing a crowd eager to see the scene. A two-minute video circulating on social media shows the abandoned baby covered with dried plantain leaves. The video calls for anyone with information about the baby’s mother to contact the police for further investigation.
The Chief Security Officer of Nkpor, identified only as the Chief Security Officer, said, “I was called to inspect the body of a one-day-old girl found abandoned at a church on Engr Chukelu Street. We urge anyone with information about the perpetrator to come forward to aid the police. The Ogidi Police Division has been notified.”
When our correspondent visited the scene, a group of locals was gathered, discussing the situation. Residents had alerted neighborhood security, who inspected the scene before contacting the police.
Chris Udeze, the community’s Chief Security Officer, reported that efforts to trace the baby’s mother had so far been unsuccessful. He said, “We were notified of the abandoned baby on Monday morning. The body, covered with leaves, appeared to be that of a one-day-old. We suspect the baby was left there late Sunday night, but we can’t confirm if she was alive or dead when abandoned. The police were informed and have examined the scene. They have instructed us to keep an eye out for any lactating women whose babies are missing.”
Resident Nkechi speculated that the baby may have been abandoned by an unmarried woman. “It seems likely the baby was left while still alive but died from exposure,” she said. “This is the first time something like this has happened here. The baby was found in a corner of the church grounds, which are not fenced or gated.”
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police command spokesperson, expressed concern and said, “This is a very unfortunate incident. I will escalate this to the Area Commander for a thorough investigation and update you.”
A source at the Ogidi Police Division, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the body had been removed and buried. “Investigations are underway, and we are asking the community to report any lactating women whose babies are missing,” the source said.
