Woman dumps 6-month-old baby into pit-latrine, arrested

Police in Gatsibo District are holding a woman for allegedly dumping her baby into a pit-latrine. Police Fire Brigade retrieved the body of the six-month-old baby boy from the pit-latrine on Wednesday, after days of intensive efforts to dismantle the structure. The mother is currently being held at Kabarore Police Station. She dumped the baby in the pit-latrine at the Roman Catholic Church of Nyarubuye in Kabarore Sector, late last month, according to Police. The baby was discovered missing on February 24 after Mukeshineza returned from Kabarore alone, where she had visited. Suspicious residents then dragged her to Police where she gave information. The Regional Judicial Police Officer, Emmanuel Kayigi, condemned the act and urged residents to always feel free to approach local authorities for help in case of hardships. “Why would someone avoid local authorities designed to address their challenges. If one faces challenges beyond their capacity in one way or the other, they should approach local authorities and report because that’s why leaders are there,” said Kayigi. The woman, names withheld, travelled 7 kilometres from Kiburara Cell, Rwimbogo Sector to Kabarore, where she dumped the baby. She claimed she had no husband to help her and that she was also infected with HIV. “The father of the baby abandoned me immediately after giving birth and fled to Ruhango. I could not afford taking care of the baby because I’m living with HIV. That’s why I decided to dump the baby because I had no help,” she said. Kayigi said the woman will be charged with manslaughter. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Woman dumps 6-month-old baby into pit-latrine, arrested