While a baby who was wrapped up in a bundle and buried in the ground was recently exhumed alive with Kabiru Kamba, a farmer, recounting how his intervention led to the exhumation and rescue of the newborn baby girl, a woman has been arrested after a five-day-old baby was found decapitated and dismembered in a rubbish bin in Spain.
The baby had been buried alive in his farmland in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi.
However, details of the sickening crime against the unfortunate five-day-old in Spain first emerged last week when detectives launched an urgent appeal to find the mother.
Doctors confirmed the little girl had been born alive and was just five days old when she was killed, likely with a knife.
On Tuesday, Civil Guard officers in Madrid arrested a woman born in Ecuador.
Reports on Wednesday said police were searching her house in Vallecas, a working-class neighbourhood in the capital.
The suspect, who has been taken into custody, remains unnamed but has been described locally as a married woman with children.
The police mission to find the person responsible for the horrific crime, named Operation Natal, was launched on December 12 when a shocked recycling centre worker in Loeches, near Madrid, found the baby’s remains in several plastic bags.
The operation aims to ‘get justice’ for the dead infant.
A specialist dog assisted cops in the investigations at the waste plant and sniffed out several remains of the newborn in the area.
Tests revealed the girl had been delivered successfully before being decapitated with a knife and her body parts stuffed into bin bags.
DNA tests carried out on the corpse revealed she was of Latin American or subtropical origin, suggesting her mother would have been from a Central or South American country.
In light of this, the Civil Guard asked for citizen collaboration in case any resident of Vallecas knew an immigrant woman who had been pregnant during the last months of last year.
Detectives believed her remains reached the Loeches plant after being thrown into a container in the Vallecas neighbourhood close to the M-30 motorway.
The Civil Guard, as part of Operation Natal, last week asked for the public’s help in identifying a woman they estimated to be aged around 40 who had been pregnant during the last months of last year.
A police spokesman said at the time: ‘From the investigations carried out so far, it has been possible to determine that the remains would correspond to a female baby and that she was born alive.
‘There are indications that would point to her death being of a violent nature.
‘We are seeking the public’s help in clarifying this criminal act and asking anyone who could have any information of interest to contact us.’
Back to the story of the Nigerian baby’s rescue, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that a team led by the former Permanent Secretary, State Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Rafa’atu Hammani, visited the kind farmer’s house where his wife is presently caring for the baby.
Kamba said that he arrived at his farm on Friday, June 27 and noticed an unusual ridge among the regular ones on his farm.
“Out of curiosity, I flagged down some motorcyclists to help dig. While digging the ridge, we found a wrapper buried in the soil, which raised my suspicion,” he narrated.
“I immediately informed the police at a nearby checkpoint, who came and dug further, only to discover a baby girl, miraculously alive and crying, shrouded in a piece of textile.”
On the custody of the child, Kamba said that he had taken custody of the child for humanity and out of compassion.
“In such situations, it is only normal to help. I was moved to care for her and requested her custody,” he said.
“The baby was handed over to me by the Dandi local government council, pending conclusion of police investigations.
“I didn’t expect anything in return; it’s simply a humanitarian act, and coincidentally, my wife had just given birth; so breastfeeding the baby has not been a challenge.
“In fact, we have planned her naming ceremony for Wednesday, and I have already bought a ram and other essential requisites for the event.
“By Allah’s will, she will be named then.”
On her part, his wife expressed willingness and joy in accepting the baby into their family.
“I felt perfectly fine and happy when my husband told me. I will take care of her just the way I will do to my own,” she promised.
Responding, Hammani, assured the rescuer that observations from the visit would be relayed to the Wife of the Governor, Hajiya Zainab-Nasare Idris, for further action.
In his remarks, the Secretary, TWG, Alhaji Nasiru Idris said the purpose of the visit was to express heartfelt concern over the tragic incident, offer prayers of gratitude to Almighty Allah for sparing the baby’s life and commend the heroic actions of the rescuer.
He also reaffirmed TWG’s commitment to offering support and commended the Nigeria Police for swinging into action to searching and bring the perpetrator to book.
NAN reports that team donated several essential items, including soap, baby clothes, detergents, diapers, a baby bed, powdered milk, mosquito net, and mattress, among others.
Click here to watch the rescue video.
These two cases are heartbreaking and highlight the importance of protecting vulnerable lives, especially newborns. The contrast between the baby rescued alive and the tragic outcome in Spain underscores the need for support systems and resources for new mothers. How can we better support those in need to prevent such tragedies?