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About 21 children said to be inmates
of Madonna Angels Community Children’s home (Motherless babies home), Atani, Ogbaru
local government area are said to have gone missing, with wife of Anambra state
Governor, Chief Mrs Ebele Obiano ordering immediate probe into the
disappearance.
According to the commissioner for
Women’s affairs in Anambra State, Mrs Victoria Chikelu, Chief Mrs Obiano who
supervises the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is greatly
pained by the development and insisted the details of the missing children must
be found.
It was gathered that the 21 children
were given birth to by teenage girls who were discovered in the home during a
raid by personnel of the Directorate for Security Services(DSS).
A source said, “The disappearance of
the children was after DSS discovered teenage mothers in the home and arrested
them , thus forcing the ministry officials and the Nigerian police to do
further investigation , only to discover that there were 21 babies which have
so far been put to birth by the teenagers.”
“The Governor’s wife was not happy
at that because she frowns at any kind of child trafficking and has vowed to
stop the perpetrators by all means possible, and you will remember that she has
asked all traffickers in the state to leave Anambra or face the wrath of the
law”
A police source said, “ we
discovered the missing children as the home had 26 children before DSS
allegedly burst the home harbouring 14 pregnant girls in the home against what
they were registered for. The DSS officials got curious on asking where those
who have delivered kept their babies but did not get satisfactory answers.
The Anambra Police PPRO, Uche Ezeh
could not be reached as at press time for his comment but officials at the
ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development confirmed the development.
When contacted the Commissioner for
Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Victoria Chikelu confirmed the
development but said she was in the Exco meeting and referred our reporter to
the Permanent Secretary Mrs Victoria Mgbemena for details of what transpired.
Efforts to contact the Reverend
Sister in-charge of the home, Reverend Sister Uyanne for clarification could
not be possible.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Women
Affairs and Social Development has ordered for closure of the home.
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