By Sabiu Abdullahi
Residents of Tudun Tagarji in Kano State were left in shock on Saturday after a newborn baby was discovered abandoned inside a carton near a drainage in the Kaura area.
The discovery was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday by the Commander of the Operation Zaman Lafiya vigilante group, Rabiu Sulaiman.
Sulaiman explained that his team encountered the tragic scene while on routine patrol in the early hours of the morning.
“Yesterday, around 2 a.m., while we were on patrol, we came across a shocking incident inside a pit very close to us. Upon close observation, we noticed a disposed carton, but we had no idea what was inside it.
“To clear our doubt and be sure nothing harmful was kept there, I instructed my boys to open the carton, and behold, upon opening it, we saw a baby already dead,” he recounted.
Following the discovery, the vigilante team immediately informed local community leaders before reporting the matter to the police.
“By morning, we invited the ward head to come and see for himself, along with other members of the community, before conveying the baby to the police station and informing them,” Sulaiman added.
The authorities directed them to a hospital, where doctors confirmed the baby was already deceased.
“We came back home and organised burial rites for the baby in accordance with Islamic teachings,” he stated.
Sulaiman urged community vigilante groups to remain vigilant and stated the importance of parental guidance, particularly in preventing situations that could lead to unwanted pregnancies.
“Unwanted pregnancy contradicts Islamic teachings. Parents must monitor their children’s movements and guide them properly,” he advised.
The incident has sparked deep sorrow within the community, with calls for increased awareness and preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.