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By Madu Obi
The Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo has handed over the founder of the controversial Arrows of God Community Children’s Home, Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi local government area of Anambra State, Rev D.C Ogo, to the men of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the state.
Rev Ogo was found to have been involved in illegal adoption, where she allegedly gave away children in her orphanage homes to the highest bidder.
The state government had earlier sealed the orphanage after revelations were made by an investigative journalist that over 20 children were kept in the home.
The state government subsequently recovered all the children before it was sealed. At the time the orphanage was raided, Rev Ogo was at large.
However, following her arrest, the Commissioner questioned her in her office on Wednesday during which she lamented the bad image she had caused the state, despite government’s efforts to rid the state of such practices.
Obinabo said: “Imagine the bad image people like you are giving the state despite our numerous efforts to rid Anambra State of corrupt adoption practices.
“I’m using this opportunity to warn other community children’s home operators to desist from all forms of illegalities that bring bad name to the state."
"It took almost two months for Ogo to resurface after the sealing of her orphanage because she claimed that she had been ill, and could not honour the summon by the ministry.
"Part of our mandate is to fight illegal adoption and we have put up measures to address that, including rules and regulations guiding operations of orphanages in the state.
“We have designated courts which we informed of all registered homes to approach, to enable us control all adoptions, but the Arrows of God went against the instructions.
"I found out that she carried out the adoption through one court in Nnewi to back up her nefarious acts.
“As soon as we saw the video, we rushed to the facility with police but discovered that the owners had disappeared, abandoning the entire children.”
Obinabo charged intending adoptive parents to be wary of those parading themselves as ministry’s agents, warning that the law would always take its course.
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