Women and social welfare commissioner for the state of Anambra, Hon ify obinabo. Onitsha Arrow of God Community Children’s Home has been shut down by Ify Obinabo due to claims of child trafficking and illegal adoption.
The orphanage was shut down on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, as a result of an investigative report by investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo that circulated on social media and local television stations and claimed that the state ministry of women and social welfare was involved in the illegal adoption of a baby girl alongside one of her registered homes in the state.
The founder of the home, Rev.D.C Ogo, was first invited to Hon. Obinabo’s office in Awka in response to the news, but she declined.
Given the foregoing, the director of women’s affairs, working with security personnel, stormed the orphanage home at 33 Nkwelle and sealed it.
Hon. Obinabo noted that the ministry is not aware of any adoption with the Arrow of God Orphanage Home while stating that the adoption process never went through the ministry in her remarks made immediately after the area was sealed off.
She continued by listing a few irregularities with the adoption, including the absence of three signatories—her, the child’s head, and the ministry’s permanent secretary—from the document.
In contrast to the Nnewi court order depicted in the documentary, she further claimed that since she took office, all requests for court orders pertaining to adoption or care must go through the designated Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka.
The fundamental objective is to protect the child’s best interests, she continued, so that is why.
The Commissioner issued a warning to other operators of children’s homes engaged in illegal adoption, stating that they must cease immediately or face the consequences and that the state government is making every effort to crack down on operators who don’t adhere to the state’s prescribed standardized operational practices and procedures.
She urged prospective adoptive parents to exercise caution because con artists are now posing as ministry consultants who aid in adoption facilitation, reminding the public that the state ministry of women and social welfare has not hired the services of any consultant.
Taking advantage of the occasion, she urged everyone to alert the ministry immediately if they noticed any suspicious activity taking place in any orphanage homes while also promising to ensure Rev. DC Ogo’s arrest as soon as possible.
A newborn and 20 other children were saved from the orphanage home, and the founder and her staff are still at large.
There are 10 boys, 9 girls, and a newborn among the children, who range in age from 1 to 17 years.
While the necessary steps are taken to find and reunite the children with their various families, they are currently being cared for by the state government.
