By Emmanuel Kwada
In a heart-wrenching video that has gone viral across social media, midwife Vicky, known online as a beacon of compassion, shares a distressing tale of altruism met with abandonment. The 5-minute clip captures Vicky’s emotional plea for help after a young woman, referred to as Sandra, left her newborn in Vicky’s care following a pregnancy that began under troubling circumstances.
Vicky recounts how Sandra, approached her last January seeking an abortion after discovering she was pregnant by a married man who dismissed the pregnancy as mere “cruise” (a casual fling).
Despite the man’s refusal to take responsibility, Vicky, driven by her professional ethics and personal values, convinced Sandra to carry the pregnancy to term, citing potential health risks and future blessings. Vicky not only provided free prenatal care but also delivered the baby at no cost, a gesture she framed as her way of “paying tithes and giving back to society.”
However, the story took a dark turn when, shortly after giving birth, Sandra disappeared, leaving the infant with Vicky for over 24 hours. Despite multiple attempts to contact Sandra, including using different phone numbers, Vicky found herself blocked and ignored.
“I thought I was doing good,” Vicky laments in the video, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and sorrow as she holds the swaddled baby. “Now, this girl has paid me with evil.”
The video, which has amassed thousands of views and sparked a flurry of reactions, underscores deeper societal issues in Nigeria. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 45% of induced abortions in the country are unsafe, contributing significantly to maternal mortality and infertility.
The case also sheds light on the pervasive “sugar daddy” culture, where economic desperation drives young women into relationships that often end in exploitation and abandonment.
Vicky’s plea is not just for Sandra’s return but also for legal recourse. She threatens to involve social welfare and the police if Sandra does not reclaim the child, whom she refers to as “my friend” and “my fan on Facebook.”
The midwife’s dilemma highlights the lack of support systems for women in similar situations and the potential legal and social ramifications of child abandonment in Nigeria.
As the video continues to circulate, it raises critical questions about responsibility, choice, and the role of community in addressing the fallout of exploitative relationships. Vicky’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost behind statistics and the urgent need for comprehensive support for both mothers and children in Nigeria’s complex social landscape.
