For residents of Ilaro, in Yewa South Local Government of Ogun State, the sight of a pregnant teenage girl simply identified as Ifeoma, whose age has been calculated between 16 and 17, is one that calls for concern.
According to the Punch Metro, the young girl who has been living at a dump site for some months now, was allegedly impregnated by an unknown man and dumped in the town around May of 2014 and the kind hearted residents have been taking care of her till she was delivered of a baby girl on the 10 th of January, 2015.
Investigations by the paper reveal that Ifeoma had been beaten and impregnated before being dumped in the town, where she had been living beside a building on Upper Leslie Road, for over nine months at the mercy of the elements.
The teenager who exhibits sings of mental imbalance, with such tell-tale sings like smiling when there was no need for it, and throwing nothing in particular into her mouth, was said to have been dumped by the roundabout by an unidentified person.
On the fateful day she was dumped at the spot, the residents recalled that her face was swollen, while marks were seen over her body.
Sitting by two bagful of used clothes given to her by Good Samaritans and another one full of plastic plates, Ifeoma was also incoherent while responding to some questions put to her by Punch reporters.
A resident who has been one of her benefactors, Beauty Saliu, a graduate-apprentice in a bead store in front of the building where Ifeoma stays, spoke to the newsmen.
"It was sometime in June, when I returned from a trip, that I saw this girl by the roadside. Her face was swollen and she looked like someone that had been beaten up thoroughly. She was always outside there in the rain and in the sun. At night, she would retire to the side of the building and sleep there.
"After about three months, she began to exhibit symptoms of an expectant mother. She vomited and was sleeping endlessly.
"I took her to the health centre here in Ilaro, and also took her to a laboratory and did a scan.
"She was indeed pregnant, and nobody knew how she was impregnated. I had to register her for ante-natal care and continue to pay all the bills.
"I was the one doing everything for her. She came dressed only in knickers and a vest. I had to buy a new set of underwear and clothes for her.
"When her delivery date was near, I wrote to the Oba of Ilaro, intimating him of Ifeoma’s condition. Kabiyesi said I should contact his personal assistant, which I did."
On 10 January, 2015, Ifeoma was delivered of a baby girl at the health centre where she had her ante-natal, and on third day, the baby, named Toluwani Amosun, was moved to an orphanage in Ilaro, named Future Leaders Orphanage, on the orders of the monarch.
Punch was able to have an incoherent chat with the teenage mother and it went thus:
PUNCH Metro: Where did you come from?
Ifeoma: I come from Lagos, Agofure Motor Park, Lagos.
PUNCH Metro: What about your parents?
Ifeoma: My papa and mama don die, dem dey village. My sister name na Faith and Favour.
PUNCH Metro: Who brought you to Ilaro?
Ifeoma: One boy.
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