A newborn has been spotted by members of Diobu Vigilante group inside a manhole along Ikwerre Road by Ekwe Street in Mile 3, Diobu in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The one-day-old male infant was spotted inside the manhole on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The Police and other relevant agencies of government are already investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In an interview with Kristina Reports, the Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Orowurokwo, Godstime Ihunwo, narrated that the dead baby was discovered at the early hours while on patrol.

“At the early hours of 23 July, 2024 at about 5:am, I and my team were on patrol. On getting to Ikwerre Road/Ekwe street Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt, we discovered that a new born baby was dumped into a Man hole.

“We discovered that the baby was dead. It was a male. I quickly rushed down to Nkpolu Police Division to make an entry, i also contacted, Prince Wiro, who is a human rights activist”.

The National Coordinator of Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Prince Wiro, has condemned the action of the unidentified mother describing it as height of wickedness.

“It is sad that before the vigilance group discovered the infant male he was already dead. The action of the mother of the child is a crime that is punishable under the Nigeria law.”

“We use this opportunity to urge residents who may have useful information about the identity of the child’s mother to report to the Police for necessary action.”

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko has confirmed the incident.

She said the Police has contacted the relevant agency for possible evacuation of the dead body while investigation is ongoing.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, urged residents with useful information on who may have dumped the baby to report to the nearest Police Division.