A female inmate of Afokang prison, Calabar, Cross River State capital, has given birth to twins, a boy and a girl.
DAILY POST gathered that the lady gave birth to the twins on Thursday at the Prison yard in Calabar.
An eyewitness said the commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Archibong received a distress call from the prison authorities about an inmate with complicated labour issues.
She said that the Commissioner and her team immediately swung into action to provide health services to the inmate
When DAILY POST visited the prisons on Sunday, the workers refused to disclose the identity of the inmate, saying it was classified as she was still an inmate.
An officer, who pleaded anonymity, said the lady was currently receiving treatment in a medical facility in Calabar.
The workers also declined giving information on when the inmate was brought in and the jail term she was serving.
When contacted on phone on Sunday, the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong said the state government has taken over the management of the babies.
“Gov. Ben Ayade has donated N1 million and other gift items to the management of the General Hospital Calabar for the upkeep of the prison inmate who gave birth to twins at the hospital on Thursday April 18,” she said.
She added that the gesture was a special Easter gift to the mother of the twins and noted that in the spirit of the Easter season, `the beautiful babies deserve love and care’.
“In line with Governor Ayade’s welfare policy and love for children, the twins were named after him and his wife, Ben and Linda Ayade.
“Right now, the mother of the twins is not with us because we had to refer her to a higher facility for further medical attention. But she had a successful Caesarean Section.
“We have these two beautiful babies here with us. We will be following them up regularly and had donated a N1million cash and special gift to the General Hospital to help in the management of these children until the mother is well, safe and sound.
“Further, we are going to have discussions with the prison authority to know the next step and what to do. But as we speak, the state government is handling the care of the children because we care and we are in the season of Easter.
“The governor has executive powers; we are going to work with our social welfare unit to try and see the extent of the crime and know if the mother can be pardoned because of these two beautiful children,” she said.