Mum, 20, Throws 5-Month Old Baby Inside Well… Blames Strange Forces

Ganiyat Salawudeen, 20, is currently cooling her heels in police custody for allegedly throwing her 5-month old baby inside a well at her mother’s family house in Alagolo area, Oja Oba, Ibadan under mysterious circumstances.

Ganiyat is said to have thrown her baby whose name was given as Timothy Odugbemi, into the well at about 8.30p.m. on Monday November 5, after which she raised the alarm that she could not find her baby.

An extensive search by family members and neighbours which extended till the following morning, led to a confession by Ganiyat after much prodding who revealed that she threw the baby inside the well – it was a confession a little too late as a shocked crowd beheld the lifeless body of Timothy. The baby was immediately removed and rushed to Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu, where he was confirmed dead. He was thereafter deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.

On hearing about the incident, the Divisional Crime Officer in charge of Mapo Division, Mr Bayo Ogundiran, reportedly led a team of detectives to the scene and arrested the mother. After preliminary investigations at Mapo Division, the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku for further investigations, while many continued to wonder what could have pushed the young lady to commit such an act against her own son.

Ganiyat who could not explain what led her to throw her own baby in a well, however explained the possibility of strange dark powers overcoming her when she carried out the act.

Narrating how the incident occurred, Ganiyat said: “On that day, I bathed the baby in the evening, changed his clothes and we both went to bed. About 8.30p.m., I rose from the bed, carried the baby and took him to the back of my room window where the well is situated.

“A spirit just came over me and asked me to throw the baby inside the well. I pushed the planks on the well aside, threw the baby inside and covered it again.

“After some time, I told the tenant living in the house that I could not see my baby. He said he saw me moments before with the baby. I left my residence for my parents’ place at Oniyanrin area and told my mother that I could not find my baby but she kept asking me where I kept the child.

“The following morning, many people came and were shouting at me, asking me where I threw the baby. An elderly man in our family then came to me, cajoling me to tell him where the baby was. Then I told him that the baby was in the well. While some people rushed towards the well, others started beating me with horsewhip, cane and different objects. When the baby was brought out, he was already dead. A police patrol van came and I was taken to the police station.”

The case is still under investigation at SCID, Iyaganku.

1 COMMENT

  1. I think, I support Gbadamosi Joyce’s contribution of why covering the face of the culprit? After comitting this henious act, her face was still covered. This could be a dead trap to men who may eventually fall back on her unknowingly, and after having a child could also be thrown into a well. Such face(s) for the interest of the masses (especially men) should be opened to the entire world to see them. Nigerian media houses, please take note.