Anambra govt closes orphanage over claims of child trafficking

Due to claims of unlawful adoption and child sale, Ify Obinabo, the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, has closed down the Arrow of God Community Children’s Home in Onitsha.

After a report and documentary by Fisayo Soyombo circulated on social media and local television stations, alleging that the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare was involved in an illegal adoption of a baby girl alongside one of her registered homes in the state, Obinabo led security personnel to seal off the structure on Wednesday.

While the founder and the staff had fled and are presently at large, the orphanage operator rescued about 20 children, including a newborn.

Ten boys, nine girls, and a newborn baby, all between the ages of one and seventeen, were among the children found.

Obinabo said that the founder of the orphanage home, Rev. D.C. Ogo, was invited to her office in Awka for an explanation but that she did not accept the invitation. She also denied that she or the ministry were involved in the unlawful child adoption drama.

The ministry is not aware of any adoptions with the Arrow of God Orphanage Home even, and the ministry was never involved in the adoption process, the woman claimed.

The absence of three signatories—the Commissioner, the Head of Children, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry—is one of the inconsistencies in the aforementioned adoption.

As opposed to the Nnewi court order depicted in the documentary, since I took office, all requests for court orders pertaining to adoption or foster care are routed through the designated Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka. This is because the main objective is to uphold the best interests of the child.

She issued a warning to other children’s home operators engaged in unlawful adoption, noting that the state government is taking all necessary steps to crack down on operators who don’t adhere to the state’s prescribed standardised operational practises and procedures.

She cautioned parents planning to adopt a child in the state to exercise greater caution because naive people are now disguising themselves as ministry experts who aid in adoption.

The state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare should make clear to the public that it did not hire a consultant.

“We urge everyone to report to the ministry any suspicious activity discovered in any orphanage facilities, and we guarantee that the operator of the said orphanage home will be brought to justice as soon as possible.

“The children retrieved are currently in the care of the state government while required steps are undertaken to trace and reunite them with their various families,” she continued.