The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI, has rescued four nursing mothers and their babies from an illegal dumpsite at Agboju, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
The rescue was carried out on Monday during an ongoing inter-agency environmental cleanup of the expressway corridor.
The exercise is focused on clearing illegal dumpsites, shanties and other environmental violations along the route.
In a statement shared on its X account on Tuesday, the agency said the Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Olaniyi Cole, expressed shock after operatives discovered young mothers living with their babies in what he described as inhumane conditions at the dumpsite.
Cole said one of the rescued babies was just nine days old and had been exposed to an environment marked by poor sanitation, polluted air and inadequate access to basic necessities.
The rescued women were identified as Fareedat Muyideen, 23, from Kwara State, who was with her two-year-old child; Ayomide Ayomoke, 25, from Ondo State, with her 10-month-old baby; Amanda Oziema Abalihi, 20, from Anambra State, with her nine-day-old baby; and Chisom Ugo, 24, from Imo State, with her 11-month-old child.
According to Cole, the women and their children were removed from the location because of concerns about their health and safety.
He added that they were receiving medical attention and would subsequently be reunited with their families or referred to appropriate welfare authorities.
“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 neeed to rescue them, offer medical assistance before reuniting them with their families or the welfare authorities,” the statement quoted Cole as saying.
Cole appealed to relatives who may be looking for the women to contact the relevant authorities, stressing that the rescued mothers and their children were still receiving medical care.
He further disclosed that LAGESC was collaborating with relevant government and humanitarian organisations to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the women and their children.
The Corps Marshal also urged parents and guardians to take greater responsibility for the welfare of their children, noting that some young people could end up living on the streets as a result of alleged maltreatment at home.
He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s opposition to child abuse and neglect, warning that parents and guardians found responsible for such acts could face prosecution.
