WARRI -A non-governmental organization, Nigerian Child Welfare Fund has called on the Delta State Government to declare “State of Emergency” on Child Traffickers, as the illicit trade has caused so much unsuspecting families pain and agony.
President of the Group, Mr Joshua Omorere made the call in a letter to the Speaker Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevworiand made available to newsmen in Warri, yesterday.
Omorere charged the Delta State House of Assembly to as a matter of urgency enact a law to jail anyone caught running unregistered orphanage for a minimum of 20 years in Prison, alleging that the illicit trade thrives within unregistered orphanages in connivance with some immoral state workers who want to make quick cash.
He stated that to discourage those who are tempted to join the illegal business because of monetary gains as well as frustrate those already in, the proposed law should make provisions for the building where such homes are run should be demolished and the land seized by the State Government.
He also advocated for stringent conditions to be put in place for running an orphanage, stressing that individuals should be discouraged from going into the business. “Only organization that has been existing and functional for a minimum of 25 years with strong financial background should go into it.
“Running an orphanage is a philanthropic work reserved for those that have more than enough to spare or those that can make sacrifices for others. Not hungry people looking for children they want to use for business. It is assumed that 60% of everything the children needs should be provided by the founder(s) while the public brings 40%”
“But today most of those homes they have turned to business centres relying on the public for 100%, which is not healthy. The primary reason for going into such venture is to give back to the society. It must be discouraged.”
Omorere who alerted Deltans of a child trafficking syndicate going round looking for children to steal, lamenting the complicity surrounding the arrest and subsequent release of a Staff of the Nigerian Prison Service, Oluchi Onwughara and one Madam Euphemia Alago for allegedly buying four stolen children from Agbarho Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State by the Police in Umuahia, Abia State.
Omorere appealed to the Inspector General of Police, the member representing the people of Uvwie in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Efe Ofobruku and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council to put a word across to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 9 Umuahia to enable his officers do a thorough job and bring both Sam Daniels, Madam Euphemia Alago and others involved in the criminal act to face the full weight of the law.
