Anewborn and 19 other children have been rescued from the Arrow of God Community Children’s Home, Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha, Anambra State, exposed over alleged illegal adoption, the state government said yesterday.
It also said the facility had been sealed and its licence withdrawn indefinitely due to the damning investigation published by an online news site, which accused the ministry of working in cohorts with the licensed orphanage in the illegal business.
The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, said the facility was sealed in collaboration with security agencies because the owner, Rev D. Ogo, now at large, ignored invitations by the ministry over the issue.
According to the Commissioner, 20 children, comprising 10 boys, nine girls and a newborn were rescued from the facility and were currently in the ministry’s custody.
She said appropriate steps were being taken to trace and reunite them with their families.
Speaking to reporters shortly after sealing the facility, Obinabo explained that the ministry was neither aware of any adoption with the home, nor did the adoption process pass through the ministry.
She listed major irregularities in the adoption including the absence of three signatories which must be hers, that of the Head, Child Unit, and the Permanent Secretary; adding that the orphanage also used a court not certified by the ministry.
She said: “Part of our mandate is to fight illegal adoption and we have put up measures to address that, including rules and regulations guiding operations of orphanages in the state.
“We have designated courts which we informed all registered homes about, that they should not go to any other so we are in control of all adoptions.
“But the Arrow of God went against the instructions. I found out that she carried out the adoption through one court in Nnewi to back up her nefarious acts.
“As soon as we saw the video, we rushed to the facility with police but discovered that the owners had disappeared, abandoning the entire children’’.
“We immediately sealed the facility and withdrew their license, while we brought the entire kids to the ministry to ensure their safety and upkeep.”
Warning other orphanage operators involved in illegal adoption to desist forthwith, Obinabo charged intending adoptive parents to be wary of those parading themselves as ministry’s consultants in facilitating adoption.
“The ministry has not engaged the services of any consultant. Always report any suspicious activity found in any orphanage to us for appropriate actions,” she said.