Vigilante operatives has rescued a new baby girl dumped inside a refuse heap in front of Mile 3 Park, Diobu Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State in the early hours of Friday morning.

The leader of the operatives in Nkpolu Orowonrukwo community, Mile 3 Diobu, Comrade Godstime Ihunwo told newsmen that the baby was found covered with a wrapper inside a carton dumped inside the refuse heap in the area at about 3am while they were on patrol.

He added that the baby was discovered with the placenta cord yet to be detached, while she was struggling for life.

“At about 3am this morning of Friday 28th April, 2023, while on routine patrol, I discovered a new born baby which is less than 6 hours old. As at the point of discovery the baby was still wrapped with clothes and placenta.

“I rescued the child and immediately called a female nurse for urgent medical attention to be given to the baby. Upon inspection by the nurse, the baby was discovered to be a female .”

Comrade Ihunwo said he was accompanied by a Human Rights Activist, Prince Wiro, to formally report the incident at Nkpolu Police Station .

He appealed to the Rivers State Government to prevail on the contractors in charge of Ikwerre road street lights to ensure the lights are always on at night to avert incidents like this.

Also speaking on the incident, Wiro, who is the Coordinator of Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, condemned the action of the unknown mother who left the baby at the mercy of death.

He described her action as inhumane, callous and barbaric.

The Rights Activist advised young females who think they cannot take care of a child after giving birth to seek help by approaching the relevant Government Ministry in charge of children welfare rather than throwing away the baby in such callous manner.

Meanwhile, the Rivers Police Command has confirmed the rescue of the new baby girl.

The Police Command through its Spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement said that on 28 April, 2023 at about 4.20am one good Samaritan, a vigilante leader in Mile 3 axis reported at the station that he found a newborn baby girl alive wrapped with a wrapper inside a carton and brought the child to the station.

She said that just as the investigation is on, the baby girl has been transferred to Motherless Babies Home, Borokiri, Port Harcourt.