The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat, Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, disclosed during a press conference on Monday that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had taken action to seal off an orphanage home located in the Karmajiji area of Abuja. This action followed the alleged rescue of 23 children who were trafficked from Plateau State and found within the premises.
Benjamins-Laniyi revealed that the rescued children, ranging in age from one to 14 years, were discovered in distressing conditions. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had authorized the Secretariat to conduct a thorough investigation and reevaluation of orphanages operating in the capital.
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She emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the orphanage had been immediately shut down. Although the proprietor’s name was known, it was withheld pending further investigations. Benjamins-Laniyi assured that once the inquiry was concluded, a detailed report would be released.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) was already involved in the case, and measures were underway to recertify orphanages across Abuja. Efforts were also being made to reunite the rescued children with their families in Plateau State, in collaboration with the Plateau State government.
Mrs. Caroline Dafur, the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Plateau State, provided insight into the dire conditions at the orphanage. She described how the children were neglected and left in hunger, with inadequate sleeping arrangements. The deplorable state of the facility highlighted the urgent need for intervention and reform in the care of vulnerable children.
The joint efforts of various authorities underscored the commitment to safeguarding the welfare of children and combating human trafficking within the country.
