Delta to shut down orphanage homes violating Child's Rights laws

Asaba, Delta – Delta State government and House of Assembly (DSHA) are set to shut down the operations of most orphanage homes in the state for operating against children’s best interest.

This may not be unconnected to the fact that orphanages keep children in their care until they grow into adulthood, which is against the law.

The presiding House Committee Chairman on Housing, Women Affairs/Girl-Child Entrepreneurship and Humanitarian Support Services, Hon. Bridget Anyafulu, exposed during the public hearing on the Delta State Child Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was held at the Assembly on Wednesday in Asaba.

She said the Orphanage Homes, gradually becoming toxic to society, are not supposed to keep children in their care until they grow into adulthood, saying that the law provides that children should stay in the Orphanages for a maximum period of three months before being given up for adoption or reunited with their parents or relatives.

She stated categorically that the state was ready to implement the Child Rights law by following the best practices, hence the amendment of the law after 16 years of being domesticated in the state.

“However, in most cases, children grow into adulthood in the orphanages, even beyond 18 years, as a result of orchestrated shady deals by the operators of the Orphanages.

“Keeping of children in the Orphanages has a period of duration by law. We are ready to operate within that confine; we will no longer tolerate illegal operations of the Orphanages.

“The position of the law is very clear on this. The best interest of the child is of paramount concern, and it must be considered when making decisions about what happens to the child.

“Anything that constitutes evil against the child is a crime. We must ensure the protection of the child at all times, and whoever infringes on those rights is liable for punishment.

“If the orphanages cannot operate within the ambits of the law, then they just have to be shut down. Instead, we can have what is called the foster homes where children without parents or link to relations are kept and given the home environment treatment”, Anyafulu explained.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Police command arrested two women over a newborn baby which they reportedly bought at N2 million in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, luck ran out of them when they were delivering the baby to the buyer.

He said, “On 1/10/2024, about 1830hours, a tricycle rider (name withheld) came to Ekpan police station and reported that while he was on his daily commercial operation, four women boarded his tricycle, on reaching Effurun Roundabout, two of them alighted from the tricycle.

“One of the two women who alighted handed over a newborn baby boy to the women left in his tricycle and he heard one of them saying, the balance has been paid, while saying that when they get to their destination, they should inform her.

“The tricycle rider smartly diverted the two women: Tessi Ikechukwu, and Lauretta Akomen, and the newborn baby to Ekpan Police Station where they were also arrested.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects, Lauretta Akomen (female) aged 38yrs bought the baby for the sum of N2,000,000 from a traditional home located in Port Harcourt where they harbour teenage girls, and got men to have sex with them till they are pregnant after which they sell the babies to people looking for children.", Edafe