🍼 “Fatal Lullaby”: Nigerian Mothers Using Alcohol to Soothe Babies Sparks Public Outrage

A disturbing trend has drawn widespread criticism after a viral video showed an unidentified Nigerian mother feeding a few‑month‑old baby alcohol to help the child sleep. The footage quickly ignited national outrage and prompted an urgent police investigation.


📽️ The Viral Video & Police Response

  1. Social media influencer @ChuksEricE first shared the shocking video on X (formerly Twitter), capturing a woman tearing open a sachet of what appeared to be Triple Action Bitter with her teeth, drinking from it, and then pouring it to the infant. 
  2. The Nigeria Police force swiftly condemned the act as “illegal and dangerous,” stressing that giving alcohol to a child breaks Nigerian child welfare laws and endangers their physical and psychological health. An urgent investigation is ongoing. 


⚠️ Health Risks & Legal Ramifications

Exposing infants to alcohol—even in small quantities—can result in serious consequences, including:

  1. Acute alcohol poisoning
  2. Developmental delays
  3. Cognitive impairment
  4. Such actions may also attract charges for child neglect or cruelty under Nigerian law.


🧠 Culture of Dangerous Remedies

Historically, alcohol has been used by some cultures to soothe teething pain, often by rubbing it on the gums of infants. Though considered “old-fashioned” today, this practice is strongly discouraged by modern child health experts due to its dangers.

In other parts of Africa, such as Ghana’s Upper East region, similar incidents have been tied to extreme poverty—some teenage mothers reportedly resorted to giving babies akpeteshie (local gin) to quiet their crying, in one tragic case resulting in a baby’s death.


💬 Public Reaction & Warnings

Online responses demonstrated anger and disbelief:

“Some people are not supposed to be allowed to have kids.”  

Parenting and child-rights advocates have called for:

  1. Swift identification and prosecution of perpetrators
  2. Stronger public education on safe, non-alcoholic infant care methods
  3. Enforcement of child protection laws


📸 What Experts Recommend

Medical professionals and child welfare organizations emphasize:

  1. Encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months 
  2. Using proven, safe teething remedies like chilled teething rings, gentle gum massage, or pediatric-approved pain relievers
  3. Discrediting cultural myths that alcohol or herbal concoctions can safely calm infants


📊 Summary Table

IssueDetails
IncidentBaby given alcohol to help sleep
Public ReactionNationwide outrage, viral spread
Police ActionInvestigation ongoing; calls for tips
Health RisksPoisoning, developmental damage
Cultural ContextOutdated teething myths still persist
Expert AdviceUse safe teething coping methods
Legal OutlookPotential charges for child abuse/neglect

🔍 Final Thoughts

This deplorable case highlights the dangers of relying on harmful traditional remedies and underscores the urgent need for improved parenting education and robust child protection systems. While the mother’s motivations remain unclear, this incident serves as a stark reminder: no cultural practice should override a child’s safety.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

🛰️ Owolabi Salis: Pioneering Nigeria’s Presence in Space A Historic Suborbital Voyage

On Blue Origin’s NS‑33 mission, Nigerian-born legal luminary and philanthropist Owolabi M. Salis made history as the first Nigerian to travel beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. The 10-minute suborbital flight reached approximately 105.2 kilometres, marking Nigeria’s landmark entry into the global space narrative . Blue Origin’s NS‑33 mission, part of its New Shepard programme led by Jeff Bezos, has now flown around seventy individuals—Salis included—across four repeat flyers . His fellow crew members included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin. The mission patch, themed “Solstice 33,” featured dual green rings signaling both Earth’s horizon and the Kármán line—symbolizing humanity’s relentless push into new frontiers . 📚 Behind the Achiever Owolabi M. Salis is not just a trailblazer in aviation—he’s a seasoned attorney, chartered accountant, philanthropist, and author. Equipped with a ba...
Read more

🇨🇴 Atlanta United Signs Colombian Midfielder Steven Alzate in $2M Deal Mid-Season Reinforcement Strengthens Atlanta’s Midfield

Atlanta United have secured Colombian midfielder Steven Alzate from English Championship team Hull City in a deal reportedly worth $2 million, with a contract running through the 2030 season. A Technical Playmaker Joins ATL’s Ranks Chris Henderson, Atlanta’s Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director, expressed excitement over the signing: “He’s a technical midfielder, shows good Alzate, 26, brings significant versatility—having played for teams like Leyton Orient, Brighton & Hove Albion, Swindon Town, Standard Liège, and Hull City. Over 172 appearances, he has tallied 12 goals and 18 assists, gaining experience across England and Belgium.( turn0news12 ) What It Means for Atlanta United Atlanta United’s midfield lineup currently includes players such as Bartosz Slisz, Tristan Muyumba, Will Reilly, and Jay Fortune (currently sidelined with a foot injury). Alzate’s addition brings fresh creativity and tactical flexibility in what has been a busy transfer window for the Five Stripes. ...
Read more

Jigawa Boat Tragedy: 16 Girls Involved, 4 Bodies Recovered, 5 Missing

Incident Overview On Sunday, 27 July 2025, at approximately 17:00 hrs, a wooden boat carrying 17 passengers—16 of whom were girls aged between 10 and 13—capsized mid-river on its journey from Digawa Village (Jahun LGA) to Zangon Maje town (Taura LGA), in Jigawa State . Rescue and Recovery Operations Preliminary reports from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa Command confirm the following: 7 passengers rescued alive 4 bodies recovered 5 individuals still missing as of the latest report.   The rescue operation was led by NSCDC officials in collaboration with local divers and community volunteers, and is ongoing in efforts to locate the missing.  Victims & Community Impact That 16 of the 17 passengers were young school-aged girls underscores the tragic nature of the incident and raises serious concerns about waterway safety in the region. Families and communities in Digawa and Zangon Maje are grieving the loss and anxious about the fate of the m...
Read more