Cross River Speaker intervenes as 1 day old baby drowns in flood

A 1-day old baby abandoned under the rain, Friday morning has died.

The sex of the baby was not immediately known and none of the onlookers could say how or when the baby was abandoned.

But they claimed the baby must have been left by the roadside under the rain.

Residents of Ikot Ishie community in the Calabar Municipality Council had raised the alarm and drawn the attention of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem who lives close by.

According to eyewitnesses, even though the Speaker had swiftly responded when he received the distress call from the residents but before he arrived at the scene the baby had died.

Speaking at the scene Friday morning, Ayambem expressed deep concern over the loss of the innocent child and the growing rate of infant abandonment in the city.

In an emotional laden voice he said children are gifts from God and deserve the chance to live, grow, and flourish.

“This heartbreaking incident is a stark reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

“No child should ever have to face such a tragic fate,” he declared.

He called on the community to unite and take action to put an end to such dastardly acts.

He said stricter penalties against individuals involved in such heinous acts of baby abandonment would be enacted, stressing that such will deter those intending to commit such crime in future.

“The State House of Assembly is considering legislative measures to address the crime of baby abandonment.”

He reminded everyone of the inherent value of every life, especially the most vulnerable among us.