The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has received the founder of the Arrows of God Community Children’s Home, Rev. D.C. Ogo, who was recently accused of unlawful adoption.
In a statement made accessible to journalists on Wednesday, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media assistant to the state commissioner for women and social welfare, Ify Obinabo, revealed this.
In August 2023, the government closed the orphanage in Nkwelle 33, close to Onitsha, due to claims of child trafficking and unlawful adoption.
The orphanage’s founder and staff apparently fled at the time, and about 20 kids, including a newborn, were later found there.
The orphanage was accused of exchanging babies for money, according to a Foundation for Investigative Journalism investigation that led to the government’s decision.
An investigative journalist named Fisayo Soyombo performed a 19-month study that resulted in the report that was released on August 10, 2023.
However, Ikeanyionwu alleged in the Wednesday statement that when the founder was questioned about why it took her two months to emerge following the shutting off of the home, she stated that she was ill and so could not attend when she was called.
The founder of Arrows of God Community Children’s Home in Nkwelle 33, Rev. D.C. Ogo, was turned over to men from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for unlawful adoption, according to a statement from the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare.
This was carried out in response to an investigative report that circulated on social media and local news stations and claimed that the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare had taken part in the illegal adoption of a baby girl along with one of her registered homes in the state.
According to the statement, the commissioner bemoaned the damaging reputation Ogo has given the state.
Other child care providers allegedly received warnings from the commissioner to abstain from any illegal activity that could reflect poorly on the state.
The statement said, “On why she went through with the adoption process despite the commissioner’s warning, Ogo could not come up with any logical justifications for the query, but instead indicated it was her secretary, one Mr. Monday, who handled the adoption.