A husband and wife reported each other to the police at Lokoloko West, Wau Town of Western Bahr el Ghazal State on Friday following their disagreement over child maintenance.
The woman had reportedly abandoned her infant with the husband, claiming the man had failed to provide for the family’s upkeep. The man, on the other hand, reported the wife to the police for abandoning the baby.
The wife told the police she abandoned the baby because her husband had failed to give her money for buying food.
“The reason why I left the baby with the father is because of lack of care. My husband had failed to provide the upkeep money from when I got pregnant,” said the woman.
“Since August, he neither visits me nor gives me money for upkeep. Why should I suffer when the person who made me pregnant is there?’’ the woman asked.
“I thought of giving him his baby so that he can use the money that he does not want to give me on his baby. I did not commit any crime and I am ready to take back the baby if he is willing to provide for the upkeep,” she added.
The father said he had only failed to provide for the wife and the baby for one day when he did not have money.
“I am not working in any government institution or in any organization. I am a casual laborer and there are days I do not earn anything,” said the father.
The State Child and Social Welfare Director-General, George Kornelio, confirmed awareness of the incident.
“We received the report from the Wau municipality administrators and went to the Lokoloko Police Station for a briefing. The couple should not subject the innocent baby to any suffering,” Kornelio said.
“The problems arising from the economic crisis are all over but people should understand their circumstances at home,” he said.