Lagos Dumpsite Rescue: Four Babies Found Living in Hazardous Conditions With Their Mothers
Four babies and their nursing mothers have been rescued from an illegal dumpsite in Agboju along Lagos-Badagry Expressway after it was discovered that they were living in a place that posed serious health and safety concerns.
The operation was conducted by the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) on Monday as part of a joint operation by various agencies to clean up illegal dumpsites, shanties and other environmental offences along the expressway.
The agency said it was “shocked” to find the young mothers living with their babies in an “inhumane” environment, where air quality was poor, waste was piled up and access to basic needs was limited.
One of the babies rescued was said to be just nine days old.
The women and their children were evacuated from the site due to concerns for their welfare and vulnerability, according to LAGESC Corps Marshal, Olaniyi Cole. The families are being medically attended to and authorities are trying to reunite them with their relatives or refer them to the appropriate welfare services.
LAGESC was working with government and humanitarian organisations to assist the affected families in their rehabilitation and reintegration, Cole said.
The situation illustrates the dangers children may encounter when families are living in dangerous surroundings, especially when infants are not well protected from environmental hazards and have poor living conditions.
Cole also urged family members looking for the rescued women to reach out to the authorities.
He asked parents and guardians to be more aware of children’s well-being, as child maltreatment in the home can lead to children becoming homeless.
The Lagos State Government again condemned child abuse and child neglect, saying that parents or guardians who are found guilty of such offences will be prosecuted..
