•Insane woman impregnated by unknown man delivered of baby boy in Abuja
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
One question that has been begging for an answer for over nine months is: who impregnated Ruth Gure Chabani, a mentally-unstable indigene of Kabba Local Government Area of Kogi State?
Chabani, 28, who was shortlisted for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, gave birth to a boy through caesarean section (CS) on July 22, 2023, at the Gwarinpa-Life Camp General Hospital, Abuja.
The travails of the graduate of Public Administration from the Kogi State Polytechnic, Idah, started in 2021 when she started acting in an abnormal manner.
Her father, Williams Chabani, explained that his daughter was on the verge of completing the NYSC registration process before she unceremoniously stopped.
The 67-year-old stated that, since then, life has not been the same for his family due to the erratic behaviour of his daughter.
The retired police officer said he could not think of any of his daughters getting pregnant out of wedlock because of the good morals he inculcated in them, not to talk of his fourth child who was battling health challenges.
Also, the embittered father said he was shocked when he lured his daughter to a hospital and the doctor confirmed that she was five months pregnant. He said even his daughter denied being pregnant as she flaunted her tummy in public glare.
For dark-skinned Chabani, at his age, the joy of fatherhood has sagged, going by the stress of minding a daughter who was sick, a newborn and economic hardship.
He narrated how he had shuttled between Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi states searching for a remedy to his daughter’s health challenge. Looking confused, he told our reporter that he had visited many churches in search of a miracle for his daughter.
According to him, the burden would have been reduced if his wife were alive: she died 20 years ago, leaving behind six children for him to cater for.
And because of the fear of another woman maltreating his children, he refused to remarry. He was determined to ensure that all his children got the best in life.
He said: “When she finished her HND at the Kogi State Polytechnic, she travelled to collect her certificate. When she got to Abaji, she came back. The following day she went again and collected the certificate.
“The next thing, she started behaving abnormally. She started talking strangely. That was in October. She was supposed to go for service.
“She finished school in 2020 but because of the COVID-19 pandemic her batch was shifted to allow those that graduated before her set to go for service.
“Her name had been shortlisted. In fact, her name was number 11 on the NYSC list in 2022. That was when the sickness started. I took her to Niger State to a place called Kafin Koro. We did three months and all appeared fine.
“But the illness started again. I took her to Nasarawa State to a place called Takalafiya, after Karshi; we spent about three months but nothing happened. In fact, we have gone to many churches yet no tangible result.
“I took her to Lokoja, Kogi State. We spent about a month and came back without a solution. I took her to Kunkuti in Niger State, where we spent five months. Yet, there was no result.
“When we were in Kunkuti, I just left to pick some things in Gwagwalada and, as she did not see me, she followed me home on her own. In fact, I did not even know she was pregnant because she was always chubby.
“It was when I took her for a check-up that it was confirmed that she was pregnant. She has not been able to point out the person responsible for the pregnancy. She used to go out and come back within Gwagwalada.
“About four days, around 4pm, she would go out and return. When I waited for her till 9pm and I did not see her, I went inside believing that she would return as usual. About 3:19am, I received a call from her and she was shouting and crying that ‘Baba, it is Kura, I am dying.’
“At least, she was able to give my number to somebody to reach me. I had to beg the taxi to help me to take care of her because it was not possible for me to leave Gwagwalada to Jabi expressway, at that time.
“I was dumbfounded and wondered how she was able to find her way to Jabi expressway. I begged the driver to take her to the police, Federal Road Safety Corps or Civil Defence for help.
“At about 4am, I called but he did not respond. It was about 5.10am that he responded. He said he went to the police but there was no vehicle. It was the FRSC that had a vehicle and assisted him to take her to the Gwarimpa-Life Camp General Hospital. The doctors accepted her.
“About 6am, I entered the rain to reach the hospital. Before I got to Berger Junction, the hospital called me, asked if I knew Ruth, and I said yes.
“The nurses and doctors tried to persuade her to push for the baby to come out but it was impossible. Around 11:30am, the doctors said they would take her to the theatre and that I should sign for CS. I did.
“I was crying. No too long after, the doctors and nurses told me that she had given birth to a baby boy. They brought the baby to me. She does not agree with anybody. Anyway, she treats me as a father, I cannot give up. She is my daughter. To God be the glory, she is still alive.
“l have spent a lot of money. Even if it would warrant me to sell my house, I will do it for her to get better. We still have good people who are helping me out with loans. It is getting better now.
“Before now, she would not want to see me. I don’t know the person that impregnated her. I have handed over the person to God.
“Their mother died in February 2, 2003. She gave birth to eight children. Two died before her
“Ruth is the second to my last child. My last child is writing her final examination at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah. I cannot give up on her.
“Sometimes, she will leave the house for three weeks and when you ask her about her whereabouts, she would not talk.
“Somebody needs to be there to watch her and the baby because she is abnormal. She can do anything to the baby.”
Also, Ruth’s elder sister, Grace, in shock, said her sister, while in school, never for once brought home a man as a lover that they could have suspected for the pregnancy.
She added that efforts to persuade her sister to disclose the identity of the man had been futile as she refused to do so. According to her, her father gave her sister anything she asked for without hesitation.
She said her sister would leave the house for days and even weeks without telling anyone due to her condition, until she gave birth.
One of the nurses, who didn’t want want to be named, said even after putting to birth, Ruth has remained resistant to drugs and antibiotics. The nurse expresed fear that the wounds, as a result of the CS, could lead to serious complications, if she refused to get treated.
“There is nothing you will say to her for her to cooperate. The family needs serious help. Normally, we have philanthropic organisations like Saint Vincent de Paul and individuals that come around.
“Some people will just come and ask after those that need help and they will pay. Some give N100,000. Some give N200,000. So, the day they came was the same day she was admitted.
“We are still hoping that the next time they come, we will make a case for (Ruth). They are in the hospital on credit. The man has not paid anything substantial.
“The first day, he said he had N5,000 with him and he needed some money to pay for his transport back to Gwagwalada. I told him that we needed some injections so that, in case of any emergency, we can give it to her.
“Because of her condition, she will abuse us saying that we should not use her to learn work. The hospital does not have an option. If they cannot pay, the management of the hospital will waive it.
“Our hospital is very kind. This morning when I came in, I bought some antibiotics. If not that she refused, I would have given her some,” the nurse said.
Meanwhile, Murtala Adamu, a taxi driver, narrated how and when he met Ruth. He said he found her naked at a spot close to the Airport Junction bridge.
He said most of his driver colleagues refused to touch her because of the blood coming from her and the fear of being roped in by the police in case anything went wrong.
Adamu said: “I saw her close to the bridge. You know that, in the night, we (taxi drivers) sleep in our vehicles. I just heard her shouting, ‘Jesus, help me.’ I opened the vehicle in the night to see what was happening.
“I called two of my colleagues. When we went there, she was shouting. She was naked. We were all men and we did not know the kind of help to render.
“I asked them if we should report the matter to the police because, if we took her to the hospital at that time, they might not accept her because of police report.
“They did not support me. I asked her if she had the number of any of her family members. She gave me the number of her dad and I called him.
“At that time, I did not have a cab. I asked my brothers if they could put her in their vehicle for the night, they refused.
“I begged another if he could help me with his carpet for her to sleep on top in his vehicle, he refused. It was about to rain.
“So, I begged another person to help me to take her to the bridge and it was a bit difficult because she was unable to walk.
“We tried and lifted her to the bridge in the rain. So, very early in the morning, we reported the matter to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
“The officers took her to the hospital. I called the dad and directed him to the hospital. I did it because of God, regardless of religion.”
