Chaos erupted at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt when a premature infant was discovered lifeless in front of a female hostel on campus.
Reports gathered by PUNCH Metro reveal that the male infant, covered with a cloth, was found abandoned last Saturday morning by an unidentified individual. The baby, estimated to be between six and seven months old, was left near the Rumulumeni campus of the university in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Though it remains unclear if the mother of the deceased child is a student, the shocking discovery in the early hours of the day has left the university community in shock.
One student, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted the scene: “I woke up in the morning to the sound of commotion everywhere. Upon investigation, I saw people gathered, and upon closer inspection, I saw an infant of about six months inside a pit with blood and placenta nearby.”
Another source speculated that the baby’s mother might be a student who sought to dispose of the child. “A lady from the hostel abandoned a baby near Salvation Hostel in Ignatius Ajuru University. The infant appears to be very young, with fresh blood still visible,” the source stated.
Some students suggested economic hardship or social stigma as possible reasons for the abandonment, speculating that parental rejection due to having a child out of wedlock might have driven the mother to take such drastic action.
Confirming the incident, university spokesperson Dr. Ngozi Okiridu indicated that while the circumstances surrounding the infant’s abandonment remain unclear, the matter has been reported to the police, who are now handling the investigation.
Meanwhile, Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the state police command, acknowledged the reports but stated that she was yet to verify the incident with the Divisional Police Officer. As of the time of filing the report, no further updates had been provided.
