Barely two weeks after rescuing four nursing mothers and their children from a dumpsite along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI, have rescued another mother and her five-month-old baby girl from a canal in the Abule-Ado area.
The agency’s spokesperson, Lukman Ajayi, disclosed this in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, saying the duo were found during routine clearance operations along the expressway.
According to Ajayi, the mother was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for being in the canal but said she had fled from her husband, who lives in FESTAC.
He added that the baby was found in poor health, prompting the operatives to immediately evacuate both mother and child to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Ajayi said, “Today, our operatives rescued a mother and her five-month-old baby girl from a canal at Abule-Ado during routine clearance operations on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
“The mother could not give a satisfactory answer as to why they were there, and she only said she was running from her husband, who lived in FESTAC.
“Both the mother and the child have been taken to the hospital. The child was not in a good state of health when they were rescued.”
The latest rescue has renewed concerns over the vulnerability of mothers and young children living or seeking refuge in unsafe environments along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
It also highlights the need for stronger collaboration between environmental enforcement agencies and social welfare authorities to identify vulnerable families and provide them with safe shelter, healthcare and other essential support.
On August 12, KAI rescued four nursing mothers and their babies from an illegal dumpsite at Agboju along the same expressway.
One of the babies was reportedly just nine days old and was found living in an environment characterised by filth, poor air quality and inadequate access to basic necessities.
The rescued women were identified as Fareedat Muyideen, 23, from Kwara State, and her two-year-old child; Ayomide Ayomoke, 25, from Ondo State, and her 10-month-old baby; Amanda Oziema Abalihi, 20, from Anambra State, and her nine-day-old baby; and Chisom Ugo, 24, from Imo State, and her 11-month-old child.