No fewer than 500 fake orphanage homes were on Thursday uncovered by the Delta State government in its determination to tame worrisome reports of alleged frequent sale of babies in the state.
Mrs. Omoshola Williams, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, who confirmed this to journalists in Asaba, disclosed that her ministry in line with the mandate to fish out fake orphanage homes swung into action across the three senatorial districts in the state.
She added that investigation uncovered 500 fake orphanage homes without approval for operations, as well as operating in dingy environment with allegations of sale of babies, stressing that operators of the fake orphanage homes fled for fear of arrest.
The commissioner assured that the state government will enforce the arrest of the fleeing operators, and ensure proper monitoring of all the approved orphanage homes in the state.
She said: “the state government’s mandate is that anybody caught trafficking children would be dealt with severely, we have uncovered 500 fake orphanage homes in the state, and their operators are on the run, we will do our best to ensure the state government approved ones are not indulged in the act of sale of babies”.
Williams said her ministry was working with security operatives to arrest the fleeing fake orphanage operators, and frowned at poor ventilation and inadequate lighting in some of the approved orphanage homes.
She advised the operators to improve on their facilities or risk closure, as she reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensure those who operate illegal orphanage homes are brought to book.
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