Women Affairs Secretariat, announced the closure of the Priesthood Orphanage
On Monday, February 19, 2024, Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, announced the closure of the Priesthood Orphanage in Karonmajigi by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
This action followed the rescue of 23 children, aged 1 to 14 years, who were trafficked from Plateau State and found within the premises of the orphanage.
Benjamins-Laniyi also revealed that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had given authorization for the Secretariat to conduct a comprehensive profiling and recertification process for orphanages operating within the nation’s capital.
She emphasized that as of yesterday, the orphanage in question had been immediately sealed and shut down.
While the name of the orphanage proprietor is known, it is being withheld for confidentiality reasons at this time.
However, upon the completion of thorough investigations, all relevant details, findings, and actions taken will be officially presented through gazetted channels.
“NAPTIP is actively involved in addressing this issue. As part of immediate measures, I’ve secured approval for the comprehensive recertification of orphanages in Abuja.
The Minister has endorsed a thorough reevaluation of all orphanages in Abuja to ensure compliance with standards.
Additionally, we’re collaborating with the Plateau State Government to facilitate the reunification of the children mentioned earlier with their families in the state, which is currently in progress as a transitional arrangement.”
Mrs. Caroline Dafur, the Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs, described how the proprietors of the orphanage left the children in the care of Pastor Abraham in a state of severe hunger and neglect.
Three of the children managed to escape and were found by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who promptly reported the case to NAPTIP.
The children were then taken to Human Rights Radio, which subsequently alerted both the Plateau State Government and the FCT Women’s Secretariat.
“When we arrived yesterday, we were informed that the children had gone to church.
We searched tirelessly, moving from one church to another, until we finally located them in a Deeper Life Church.
After retrieving them, we visited the orphanage and were appalled by its condition. Frankly, it’s hardly deserving of the title ‘home’,” remarked Darfur.
“The facility was incredibly disorganized.
Nine girls were cramped into a tiny room with just two mattresses, while the boys were similarly overcrowded in another small room with only two mattresses on the floor.
It’s truly distressing to witness such inhumane treatment in our country.”
The commissioner conveyed the Plateau State Government’s discontent while extending gratitude to the Mandate Secretary for facilitating the evacuation and relocation of the children to the Karu Children’s Home.
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