Barely two weeks after operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) rescued four nursing mothers and their children from a dumpsite along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, another mother and her five-month-old baby girl have been rescued from a canal in the same area.
Tripod Times reports that the agency’s spokesperson, Lukman Ajayi, disclosed on Wednesday that the duo were discovered by KAI operatives during routine clearance operations around Abule-Ado along the expressway.
According to Ajayi, the mother was unable to explain the circumstances that led her and her baby to the canal, while the child was found in poor health.
He said the operatives, concerned about the safety of both mother and child, immediately rescued them and took them 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 once again raised concerns about the vulnerability of mothers and young children found living in or seeking refuge in unsafe environments along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Previous interventions by KAI have also highlighted concerns surrounding sanitation, child welfare and access to basic necessities.
The repeated incidents further emphasise the need for environmental enforcement agencies and social welfare authorities to collaborate in identifying vulnerable families and providing them with safe shelter, healthcare and other essential support instead of leaving them exposed to hazardous conditions.
