The fate of a
lady, identified simply as Ifeoma, who is believed to be between 16 and
17 years old, has been giving residents of Ilaro, in the Yewa South
Local Government Area of Ogun State, a cause for concern.
It was said
that she had been beaten and impregnated before being dumped in Ilaro,
where she had been living beside a building on Upper Leslie Road, Ilaro,
for over nine months at the mercy of the elements.
Ifeoma was said to have been dumped by the roundabout along Upper Leslie Road around May 2014 by an unidentified person.
On the
fateful day she was dumped at the spot, the residents recalled that her
face was swollen, while marks were seen over her body.
It was
gathered that Ifeoma exhibited traits of someone who was
mentally-challenged, such as smilling when there was no need for it, and
throwing nothing in particular into her mouth.
Sitting by
two bagfull of used clothes given to her by Good Samaritans and another
one full of plastic plates, Ifeoma was also incoherent while responding
to some questions put to her by our correspondent.
Miss Beauty
Saliu, a graduate-apprentice in a bead store in front of the building
where Ifeoma stays, had become Ifeoma’s benefactor.
She said,
“It was sometime in June, when I returned from a trip, that I saw this
girl by the roadside. Her face was swollen and she looked like someone
that had been beaten up thoroughly. She was always outside there in the
rain and in the sun. At night, she would retire to the side of the
building and sleep there.”
Saliu said she later discovered that Ifeoma had been impregnated.
She said,
“After about three months, she began to exhibit symptoms of an expectant
mother. She vomitted and was sleeping endlessly.
“I took her to the health centre here in Ilaro, and also took her to a laboratory and did a scan.
“She was
indeed pregnant, and nobody knew how she was impregnated. I had to
register her for ante-natal care and continue to pay all the bills.”
Saliu said a
few days to the delivery date, she contacted the Olu of Ilaro, Oba
Kehinde Olugbenle, intimating him of the predicament of Ifeoma.
Saliu added,
“I was the one doing everything for her. She came dressed only in
knickers and a vest. I had to buy a new set of underwear and clothes for
her.
“When her
delivery date was near, I wrote to the Oba of Ilaro, intimating him of
Ifeoma’s condition. Kabiyesi said I should contact his personal
assistant, which I did.”
Saliu said
exactly on January 10, 2015, Ifeoma was delivered of a baby girl at the
health centre where she had her ante-natal, and on third day, the baby,
now named Toluwani Amosun, was moved to an orphanage in Ilaro, named
Future Leaders Orphanage, on the orders of the monarch.
When our correspondent visited the orphanage on Thursday, Toluwani was asleep in her cute cot.
But Ifeoma
could neither remember where she hailed from nor her parents’ names. She
also replied to every question put to her in pidgin Engilsh.
Part of the conversation goes thus;
Punch Metro: Where did you come from?
Ifeoma: “I come from Lagos, Agofure Motor Park, Lagos.”
Punch Metro: What about your parents?
Ifeoma: My papa and mama don die, dem dey village. My sister name na Faith and Favour.
She then smilled and turned away her face from our correspondent.
Punch Metro: Who brought you to Ilaro?
Ifeoma: One boy.
Ifeoma, however, said she wanted to go home, but was unable to tell PUNCH Metro where her home was.
Ifeoma’s benefactors said they hoped that someone who knew her would show up and show her the way home with her baby.
Culled from Punch
