A suspected human trafficker, Mrs.
Rosemary Nwachukwu, has been arrested by officials of the Lagos State
government, following a tip-off that she uses her orphanage to engage in
the act.
Our correspondent reports that the
alleged trafficker has been detained at Alausa Police Station, while 25
children found at the orphanage, Saint Stephen Charity Foundation,
located at number 30/32 Abiodun Adebanbo Street, Egbeda, on the
outskirts of Lagos, are now in custody of the state government.
Daily Trust gathered that officials of the office of Youth and Social Department led by the Director, Child Development, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo and officers from the Office of Public Defender (OPD) backed up by policemen stormed the orphanage for the exercise.
According to an official of the Office of Youth and Social Development who craved anonymity, the children are between three months and 12 years of age.
The Director, OPD, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, said it was discovered upon investigation that Nwachukwu also defrauds innocent members of the public while pretending to assist them in child adoption.
The Director, Child Development, Mrs Alaba Fadairo, on her part, said the illegal business was conducted from a room in the residential building, adding that upon investigation, it was discovered that the suspects has been engaging in various anti-children development activities, including illegal adoption and trafficking.
“Investigation also shows that there are no records of how the children got to her; no police or security report,” she said.
Fadairo warned members of the public to be vigilant and report cases of child trafficking to the media or the government.
“People and organizations that operate unapproved or illegal orphanages would be arrested and prosecuted according to the dictates of the law”, she added.
Responding to questions from journalists, the suspect, Nwachukwu, said she has been running the orphanage for the past 18 years, and that it was purely on charity basis. She denied the allegations levelled against her.
The OPD said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation had been concluded, noting that the deputy governor of Lagos, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has expressed interest in the case.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayDaily Trust gathered that officials of the office of Youth and Social Department led by the Director, Child Development, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo and officers from the Office of Public Defender (OPD) backed up by policemen stormed the orphanage for the exercise.
According to an official of the Office of Youth and Social Development who craved anonymity, the children are between three months and 12 years of age.
The Director, OPD, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, said it was discovered upon investigation that Nwachukwu also defrauds innocent members of the public while pretending to assist them in child adoption.
The Director, Child Development, Mrs Alaba Fadairo, on her part, said the illegal business was conducted from a room in the residential building, adding that upon investigation, it was discovered that the suspects has been engaging in various anti-children development activities, including illegal adoption and trafficking.
“Investigation also shows that there are no records of how the children got to her; no police or security report,” she said.
Fadairo warned members of the public to be vigilant and report cases of child trafficking to the media or the government.
“People and organizations that operate unapproved or illegal orphanages would be arrested and prosecuted according to the dictates of the law”, she added.
Responding to questions from journalists, the suspect, Nwachukwu, said she has been running the orphanage for the past 18 years, and that it was purely on charity basis. She denied the allegations levelled against her.
The OPD said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation had been concluded, noting that the deputy governor of Lagos, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has expressed interest in the case.
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She has been operating for the past 18 years!!!!!, and Nigerian government did not know? Wow!!!! Where are all these children now?
ReplyDeletePlease help Lagos state find out the fate of these once innocent children. If you were once an orphan with this Lady, let lagos know your plight or indeed success story.
We thank this government for exposing it, let us hope you can find others and put our children out of these dastardly cruel orphanages.
This is how the Igbos get to Lagos and later, the want to claim that they own Lagos or that Lagos is- no-mans-land. Ole
ReplyDeleteDeport all of them.
ReplyDelete