Trafficking: Wike moves to close down illegal orphanages

Following the spike in cases of child trafficking,  the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr.Nyesom Wike has initiated moves to close down illegal orphanages  in the nation’s capital.

The mandate secretary, Women Affairs and Child Development Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Adedayo Benjamins – Laniyi made this known on Monday during the official presentation of over 20 children trafficked from Plateau state to the representatives of Plateau state government, Mrs. Caroline Dafur, Commissioner for Women Affairs in Plateau.

The Mandate Secretary explained that when she saw the state of things in Social Development, she briefed the minister who promptly approved the re-profiling and rescaling of all homes to ascertain their state and to make sure only homes that are capable and recognised by law keep children in the FCT.

On the trafficked Plateau children, Benjamins-Laniyi stated that due to the crises in Plateau state over the years, some unscrupulous individuals took the opportunity to traffic children in the pretext of helping them.

She added that the 23 children were moved into Abuja at different times unnoticed and were taken to Priesthood Orphanage in Karon Majigi and were later abandoned with another poster.

Due to hunger, three of the children escaped and were picked up and taken to a popular radio station where Plateau indigenes in Abuja were contacted which in turn contacted the Plateau state government who in turn sent the commissioner to meet with the FCT administration over the matter.

The mandate secretary further stated that three of the 20 children were with NAPTIP doing their normal due diligence.