Destiny, a baby who at a day old was dumped in a manhole on a highway in Benin, Edo State capital, but found by a good Samaritan has finally been reunited with the mother.
This on Tuesday, more than a year and half after she was found, abandoned in the hole filled with refuse.
The sympathetic passer by took her to an orphanage.
The mother who latter surfaced, said she was depressed following several circumstances including the fact that she was unable to locate the whereabout of the father.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Gender Issues, Dr. Peter Osagie made the presentation of the baby to the family of the mother after an undertaking to take care of the child and ensure that such incident never repeats itself.
According to the permanent secretary, “It was the destiny of the baby to survive and the refuse in the manhole may have also contributed to ensuring that she was safe before she was rescued by the good Samaritan.
“We are handing over the child to the family members following their assurance that it will not happen again.
“The Baby will continue to be under the watch of the Ministry until we are satisfied. We will pay surprise visits and make constant calls to find out about the condition of the baby,” he noted.
While commending the orphanage organization for demonstrating the spirit of a humanitarian indeed for keeping the baby, the Permanent Secretary, said since a DNA test has confirmed that the baby belongs to the mother, the Ministry commenced the process of reuniting the baby with the mother.
“Sometimes, orphanages offer day care services to that extent but when the Ministry is aware, everything must go through the proper channel which you have done.