Residents of the Mukwebu locality of Bamenda II Subdivision saved an 11-month-old baby who is believed to have been locked up in the house with her deceased mother for about three days.
The decomposing body of Honorine, a local shopkeeper, was found in the backyard of her apartment, and surprisingly, her 11-month-old baby, was lying beside her, also in distress.
Neighbours last saw Honorine on Monday, May 13, and she was only discovered dead on May 16 by neighbours who encountered a chaotic and ramshackle home.
Honorine’s body was covered with maggots, which had also infiltrated the diaper of the baby, indicating that the baby had been lying beside her deceased mother for a while.
“I only came to carry water when I heard the baby crying in distress. When I looked further, I perceived a strong smell,” said a neighbour.
“I had to quickly alert the neighborhood, and the discovery was heartbreaking,” she added.
Honorine was discovered wearing only a T-shirt, with a wound on the right side of her head.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, prompting a call for thorough investigations to determine the cause and whether foul play was involved.
The infant, who was still alive despite the horrifying conditions, was immediately taken to a hospital in Bamenda.
The community has been rallying to support the baby, who remains under close observation and care.
Given the advanced state of decomposition, Honorine’s body was buried immediately to prevent further health hazards.
