Judgement Day For Jesus Cares Orphanage Home

It seems there will be no hiding place for operators of unapproved orphanage homes in Lagos State. This is as a result of the new onslaught on the operators in recent times.  Last week Thursday, the hammer came heavily on Jesus Cares Orphanage Home, located at No. 23 Alaba Taiwo Street, Alagbado in Alakuko, a suburb of Lagos when officials of office of Youth and Social Development visited and shut it down for alleged child trafficking and abuse.

Three weeks, ago, Ife-Oluwa Orphanage Home, located in Jakande Estate, Lekki and operated by 84-year old Mrs. Theresa Marques was also closed down for alleged sale of babies.

Luck was said to have run out of the Alakuko orphanage operator when in the early hours of last week’s Tuesday, one Prince Eteng, 22-year old, was seen begging for alms on behalf of the children in the Jesus Cares Orphanage inside a commercial bus enroute Ikeja from Sango, Otta.  One of the operators, Mrs. Edet Clement was arrested at her three- bedroom flat, which doubles as orphanage home.

It was gathered that the man was then accosted by a female Information officer of Lagos State Government {names withheld} who had earlier put N100 in the envelope he gave her. 

Not knowing why the lady beckoned on him, Eteng entered into dialogue with her revealing little details about the orphanage.  However, the official was said to be suspicious of the activities and authenticity of the said orphanage and quickly sent a text message to her colleague in the Office of Youth and Social Development which is responsible for orphanage matters in the state to assist her in confirming whether the orphanage was registered with the state government.

On questioning, Eteng said he was working for Mr. and Mrs. Edet Clement, (both Pastors) and owners of the orphanage. He disclosed that his duty was to collect offerings and donations from members of the public and deliver to his employers. He revealed further that he used to be paid N1000 as transport allowance and that he used to distribute 60 envelopes per day.

“I was a security guard before I was introduced to her, every day I go out, they give me N1,000 for transportation,” he confessed.

When officials from the ministry stormed the Orphanage, the environment was in disarray while it also looked empty with no foodstuff for the children. As at 11 am, the children confessed that they have not had breakfast. 

 It was also revealed that the children were not registered into school. The children were later gathered and taken to Alakuko Police Station where the case was reported before they were moved to the State Secretariat, Alausa.     

A 28 year old Ghanaian nursing mother, who served as nanny to the children said she was a widow and had left Ghana in order to avoid the dehumanising rites she was meant to go through. She stated that she moved into the orphanage in her quest for shelter for herself and her daughter.  

Residents expressed shock that there was an orphanage in the neighborhood.  A resident, Mr. Stanley Francis, explained that a friend who lives in the compound recently drew his attention to the cry of the children.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Social Development, Dr Dolapo Badru who vowed that government would not relent in its efforts to rid the state of illegal orphanage operators referred the children to the government- owned orphanage home at Idi-Araba. 

“We have many illegal orphanages in the state and we are doing all we can to sanitise the system, they are causing a lot of problem for adoptees and the society. Illegal home is by all means a place where illegal activities take place, we will not relent, we will continue to hunt them down, “he stated.

According to Mrs. Edet, she and her husband who pastor the Timeless Christian Chapel International, Mangoro Lagos, decided to help the children because they have no parents.  She said they started the home in February, 2010 and that her husband had travelled when the officials visited. 

On how she took possession of so many children in a short period, she explained that some of the children were brought to the home by  relatives after their parents died, while the others were handed over to them by their parents after signing an agreement.

Edet however claimed that though they did not know that they had to register with the State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development before operation, they were already in the process of registering the orphanage with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). 

http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=15346