CITIZENS COMPASS— The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI has rescued four mothers and their babies from an illegal dump site in the State.
LAGESC spokesperson, Ajayi Lukman, said the victims; Fareedat Muyideen, F, 23, Kwara (2 year-old baby), Ayomide Ayomoke, F, 25, Ondo (10 month-old baby), Amanda Oziema Abalihi, F, 20, Anambra (9 days-old), Chisom Ugo, F, 24, Imo (11 months-old) were rescued at the Agboju, Lagos-Badagry road corridor, in Lagos State.
The operatives disclosed yesterday, that the rescue operation was carried out on Monday as part of concerted efforts to mop up environmental nuances and infractions around the corridor.
The Corps Marshal of the Agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunji Cole (Rtd) disclosed this in a statement made available to pressmen at the Agency’s Command Headquarters situated at Bolade-Oshodi. According to him, “the inter-Agency cleanup of the Lagos-Badagry expressway which has been ongoing for weeks now, is aimed at removing infractions and hindrances on that corridor which has been successful but to our utter amazement, we discovered that there are young nursing mothers living in inhumane condition in these illegals dump sites and shanties, hence the need to rescue them, offer medical assistance before reuniting them with their families or the welfare authorities.”.
Cole described the humanitarian action as a necessity to prevent the loss of life, citing how a new-born was being nurtured in degrading conditions characterized by filth, compromised air quality and hunger. He revealed the names of the rescued namely as, Fareedat Muyideen, F, 23, Kwara (2 year-old baby), Ayomide Ayomoke, F, 25, Ondo (10 month-old baby), Amanda Oziema Abalihi, F, 20, Anambra (9 days-old), Chisom Ugo, F, 24, Imo (11 months-old).
The retired Army Major appealed to the families of these young women who may be searching for them after leaving home, to come for them as they are currently receiving medical attention before attaining full fitness for discharge. Also, while affirming the Agency’s cooperation with humanitarian best practices, the Corps Marshal assured Lagosians about the current synergy with the appropriate agencies for their rehabilitation and re-integration into the society.
In his final remarks, the Corps Marshal admonished parents to keep watch over their children as many have been discovered to abscond from home to the streets due to maltreatment, just as he affirmed the position of the State against child abuse while maintaining that defaulting parents and guardians may face prosecution for neglect and abuse.
