A nurse, alongside a health assistant and security guard at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Emure-IIe, Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State have been arrested by the state police over the weird disappearance of a newborn placenta.
SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) while briefing journalist in the state on Monday said the nurse was taken into custody because her explanation that a stray dog found its way into the facility and stole the placenta after she took delivery of the newborn is unacceptable.
Odunlami-Omisanya, said the police swung into action and arrested the three suspects after one Tunde Ijanusi, the 23-year-old father of the new born baby, brought the complain to them at the Emure-Ile Police Division.
Ijanusi, had reported that his 19-year-old partner gave birth to a baby girl on June 15 at the health center and when he asked for the baby’s placenta, the nurse who took delivery of the baby and her assistant, said they cannot find it.
The father of the baby who did not speak much while narrating the incident to journalists said he is worried as to what may have happened to the placenta.
Mrs Funmilayo Ijanusi, the paternal grandmother of the newborn told journalists that the explanation by the nurse and her assistant that a dog entered the facility and stole the placenta will not be accepted by the family.
Mrs Ijanusi said it even became more worrisome and suspicious when the nurse and other health center personnel offered to discharge the mother and newborn without collecting the hospital fees, in an attempt to coax the family to give up on the matter.
The grandmother said they must get to the root of the matter as the placenta is important to the family and also determine the glory of the newborn and must never end up in the wrong hands.
She said sadness that accompanied the missing placenta has over shadowed that joy that comes with the birth of the newborn.
The sad grandmother called on the Government and well spirited Nigerians to assist them in ensuring those involved in the weird disappearance of the placenta are fished out and made to serve the wrath of the law, as she fears the matter may be swept under the carpet without intervention.