The operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a nurse, health assistant, and security guard at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Emure-IIe, Owo Local Government Area of the state over the mysterious disappearance of a baby’s placenta.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, who made this known while speaking with the newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, said the three persons were arrested after the 23-year-old father of the newborn baby, Tunde Ijanusi, made a complaint of the incident at the Emure-Ile Police Division H.

Odunlami-Omisanya disclosed that the 19-year-old nursing mother gave birth to a baby girl on June 15 at the health centre, adding that when the father of the baby asked for the placenta, the nurse and her assistant could not produce it.

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“So, it is the case of more of negligence of duty and the nurse, health assistant and security were invited by the police and currently the case is being handled at the Emure-Ile division,” the police spokesperson said.

Speaking with journalists, the father of the baby said he was worried after health workers who took the delivery failed to give them the placenta of the girl in line with tradition.

Also speaking, the paternal grandmother of the baby, Funmilayo Ijanusi, said the report by the hospital officials that a dog entered the facility and stole away with the placenta was unacceptable.

She said the health centre officials had attempted to persuade the family to let go of the matter, offering to discharge the mother of the baby without collecting any money.

She said: “The importance of the placenta to the family according to some community elders is enormous. And the placenta tells more about the child’s glory hence dangerous to be in the wrong hands.

“Though the joy over the newborn is tainted with sadness, the family are clinging unto hope that spirited Nigerians and government to the missing placenta and serve justice on those involved.”

The Star