Viral video of a nurse carrying a new born baby at Upper Iweka Onitsha

The video showed angry mob trying to attack the nurse while alleging that she stole the and wanted to sell the baby.

It generated comments and condemnation from the public who did not hear the other side of the story by the nurse, Chinwendu Okafor who said she works as an auxiliary staff with Mother of Mercy Maternity , Onitsha.
During an interaction with our correspondent , the nurse cried that she was devastated by the calls from friends and family who saw the viral video.

According to her, the mother of the child delivered through operation in the hospital but the child was not breathing well.

Nurse Okafor said that the Midwife and owner of the Mother of Mercy Maternity, detailed her to carry the baby with the father to another hospital where they would put oxygen for the child.
She narrated that it was on the process along the road that passersby started accusing her of stealing a baby and started making video of her carrying the child.

” After we sat down the two nurses came and examined the baby and they tried calling their Doctor but told us that there is no network.
The baby father said that he cannot take such from them that his baby is going to die if care is not taken that we should go to another hospital.
We entered his car to another hospital in the area, on getting to the place he told us to get down that we should cross the main road let him pack his car well and catch up with us.
I carried the baby and crossed the road , looked back I did not see his sister who came down from the car with me.
I became worried while I waited to see if she will appear , while I was still carrying the baby, some passersby and people that was selling fruits around that Obodoukwu area, opposite Tarzan started asking me… Nurse who own that child that you are carrying and I told them that the baby Aunt came down from the car with me and that is her that am looking for now that the baby needs urgent medical medical attention.
I told them that the father of the baby was going to come soon that we were on our way to the hospital and they said that I was lying .
Before I know it people started gathering and shouting that I stole a baby. Those that are with phones started making video of me while I cried for help. They accused me of stealing the baby, I told them that I am a nurse from MOTHER OF MERCY MARTERNITY. They did not believe me and they rushed and called a Police woman who came to the scene and asked me what happened”.

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The Nurse regretted that despite all her explanations together with the father of the baby, policewomen who arrived the scene at Upper iweka insisted and took them to Okpoko police station resulting to the death of the baby later due to the delay in going to the hospital.

” The next thing the policewoman said was that I should close my mouth, that I will follow her to the police station, Okpoko, immediately the father of the baby arrived the scene and asked what was the matter, he pushed the officer away and told them that the baby is his own.
The policewoman and two other officers insisted that I and the father must go to police station despite explaining to them hoe urgent the baby needed oxygen.
They called KEKE and asked me to enter with the baby because the mans car could not start.
They took me to Okpoko Police Station at Owerri road, I pleaded with them to follow me so we can take the baby to the hospital but they refused until one of them came out and saw that it was really a new born baby with blood all over the body and ordered that the baby be taken to hospital.
The father of the baby was crying like a baby, pleading with the policewoman that his wife who delivered the child was at the hospital as she gave birth through operation, rather the officers collected his phone from him.
We later went took the baby to GOODNEWS HOSPITAL with the police.
When we got there, the medical Doctor came out and asked the nurses on duty to put drip and check if it will pass, the nurse did and blood was not coming out from the vein.
THE DOCTOR CAME OUT AGAIN AND TOLD HER TO STOP THAT THE BABY WAS DEAD so I started crying and calling on the policewoman to see what she has done.
I cried and blamed the policewoman for not allowing us take the baby to the hospital on time. I told her that she would have handcuffed me and take save the child first then get me arrested if she finds out I stole the baby.
The policewoman started consoling me and the father”.

Miss Chinwe Okafor therefore appealed to government and security agents to investigate the matter in order to exonerate her reputation already destroyed by the trending video.

Speaking with our correspondent , the midwife and owner of the Mother of Mercy Maternity, Onitsha, Mrs Chinenye Egbodike said the nurse was innocent and never had such motive as speculated.
” Chinwendu is one of my best staff, that was why i handed the baby to her with the father to go to the other hospital as the baby was not breathing well. I was surprised when i started hearing that they accused her of stealing the baby.”
The Midwife added.

          Cov/ Ndeke