The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, has rescued four nursing mothers and their babies from an illegal dumpsite in the Agboju area of Lagos State.
The women were rescued on Monday during an inter-agency environmental sanitation operation conducted along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway corridor.
The Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Cole (retd.), disclosed the development in a statement shared on the agency’s official X handle on Tuesday.
According to Cole, the operation, which had been ongoing for several weeks, was aimed at clearing illegal dumpsites, removing environmental obstructions and addressing other sanitation violations along the busy Lagos-Badagry Expressway corridor.
However, the exercise took an unexpected turn when operatives discovered the four young mothers and their babies living in makeshift structures within the dumpsite.
Women found in harsh conditions
Cole said the women were found living in what he described as extremely harsh and inhumane conditions, surrounded by accumulated refuse and exposed to poor environmental conditions.
He explained that the situation became particularly concerning because the women were nursing infants, including a newborn only a few days old.
The corps marshal said the discovery prompted an immediate intervention by the operatives, who prioritised the safety and wellbeing of the women and their children.
According to him, the women were living amid refuse, poor air quality and hunger, conditions that posed significant risks to both the mothers and their babies.
Cole said the rescue was necessary to avert a possible tragedy, particularly after operatives assessed the condition of one of the newborns and determined that urgent medical attention was required.
Identities of rescued women
The rescued women were identified as 23-year-old Fareedat Muyideen from Kwara State, who was found with her two-year-old child; 25-year-old Ayomide Ayomoke from Ondo State, who was with her 10-month-old baby; 20-year-old Amanda Oziema Abalihi from Anambra State, who had her nine-day-old baby; and 24-year-old Chisom Ugo from Imo State, who was with her 11-month-old child.
The ages of the women and their children, particularly the presence of a nine-day-old infant, have raised concerns about the circumstances that led the mothers to live in such an environment.
Cole said the authorities were working to ensure that the rescued mothers and their children received appropriate medical care and welfare support.
He added that the women would either be reunited with their families or referred to the relevant social welfare authorities after they had been medically stabilised.
Medical assistance provided
Following the rescue, the women and their children were reportedly taken for medical attention as part of efforts to assess their health conditions and address any immediate medical needs.
The intervention, according to LAGESC, was not limited to removing the women from the dumpsite, as authorities were also working with relevant agencies to determine appropriate rehabilitation and reintegration measures.
Cole said the Corps was collaborating with other government agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the women received the necessary support.
He also appealed to relatives who might have been searching for the women to contact the appropriate authorities to facilitate possible family reunification.
LAGESC raises concern over vulnerable residents
The incident has also drawn attention to the broader problem of vulnerable people living in illegal dumpsites and other unsafe locations across Lagos.
LAGESC said its sanitation operations were primarily aimed at enforcing environmental regulations and protecting public health, but operatives sometimes encounter people living in extremely difficult circumstances during the course of their duties.
Cole urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report cases involving vulnerable persons, particularly women and children living in dangerous environments.
He also appealed to parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the welfare of their children, noting that some young people reportedly end up living on the streets following alleged maltreatment, neglect or difficult family circumstances.
Warning against child neglect and abuse
The corps marshal reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to tackling child abuse, neglect and other forms of vulnerability affecting children and young people.
He warned that parents and guardians found culpable of abuse or deliberate neglect could face prosecution in accordance with relevant laws.
Cole stressed that government agencies could not tackle the problem alone and called for greater cooperation among families, communities, civil society organisations and government institutions.
The discovery of the four nursing mothers and their babies has therefore added a humanitarian dimension to the ongoing environmental enforcement activities along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
While the sanitation operation was initiated to address illegal dumping and environmental violations, the rescue has highlighted the complex social challenges that can exist alongside environmental problems.
Authorities are expected to continue providing medical and welfare support to the rescued women and their children while efforts are made to establish their family backgrounds and determine the most appropriate long-term arrangements for their safety and wellbeing.