Mirian Gom 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos authorities have rescued four nursing mothers and their babies from an illegal dumpsite in the Agboju area of the state, where they were allegedly living in harsh and unhygienic conditions.
The Lagos dumpsite rescue takes place on Monday during an ongoing inter-agency cleanup operation along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway corridor.
The Corps Marshal of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Major Olaniyi Cole (retd.), confirms the rescue in a statement posted on the agency’s X account on Tuesday.
According to him, LAGESC operatives discovered the women living in illegal dumpsites and shanties under conditions the agency considered unsafe.
“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,” Cole says.
“But, to our utter amazement, we discovered that there are young nursing mothers living in inhumane conditions in these illegal dumpsites and shanties, hence the need to rescue them, offer medical assistance before reuniting them with their families or the welfare authorities.”
He says the mothers and babies were living amid accumulated waste, poor air quality and hunger.
The rescued women are identified as Fareedat Muyideen, 23, from Kwara State, with her two-year-old baby; 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 baby.
The women are receiving medical attention, while LAGESC says it is working with relevant agencies to facilitate their rehabilitation and reintegration.
The Corps Marshal also urges parents and guardians to pay closer attention to young people, saying some youths found living on the streets have alleged that they left home because of maltreatment.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 