The Federal Capital Territory Administration has shut down Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home in Kagini, Abuja, due to allegations of child trafficking and other child welfare violations. Idris Attah, Director of Child Development at the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, confirmed the closure in a statement, stating that the facility was sealed to facilitate a thorough investigation into its activities.
According to Attah, the proprietress of the orphanage, Grace Ebele Chibuzor, allegedly fled with an unspecified number of children to an unknown location without notifying the relevant authorities. This development has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of the children in her care. The statement emphasized that the closure is pending the outcome of investigations into the orphanage’s activities concerning children.
Preliminary investigations have linked the orphanage to a recent case involving four siblings who were allegedly taken from Ado in Nasarawa State and moved to Gwagwalada in the FCT. Fortunately, the children, aged 11, 7, 4, and 2, were reunited with their biological parents. Further findings suggest an alleged connection between the orphanage and Anderson Archibong, the Executive Secretary of the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria, who is currently at large.
The authorities suspect that this relationship may have facilitated the illegal movement of children from states such as Benue and Nasarawa into Abuja for unauthorized fostering and adoption. The FCT Administration is urging members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the missing children or suspects to report immediately to the nearest security agency.
The closure of the orphanage highlights the need for increased vigilance and regulation of child care facilities to prevent child trafficking and other forms of exploitation. The FCT Administration’s swift action demonstrates its commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of vulnerable children. As the investigation continues, the authorities will likely work to reunite any other children who may have been affected with their families and bring those responsible to justice.
