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| Governor Okorocha & his wife flaked by distinguished members of the clergy |
Imo State
government has adopted the 24 pregnant teenagers rescued from an illegal
motherless babies’ home by the security operatives in the State.
In addition
to adopting the helpless teenagers, the State government is to provide the sum
of 10 million naira for the upkeep of the pregnant girls and to ensure safe
delivery of their babies.
Governor Okorocha disclosed this when officials of the State ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development presented the victims to the governor at the Government House, Owerri on Tuesday.
Governor Okorocha disclosed this when officials of the State ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development presented the victims to the governor at the Government House, Owerri on Tuesday.
Flanked by
his wife, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha and members of the State Executive Council, the
governor expressed shock at the plight of the girls who claimed they were lured
to the ‘baby making factory’ owned by a woman known as ‘Madam one thousand’
He ordered
the immediate closure of all illegal motherless baby homes in the State and
directed that henceforth, child adoption in Imo State must have the approval of
the Governor or his wife.
To serve as a deterrent to others, the governor ordered the immediate demolition of the home where the victims were rescued at Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area in Imo State even as he condemned the ugly trend of people making money from child trafficking and other illegal means in the State.
To serve as a deterrent to others, the governor ordered the immediate demolition of the home where the victims were rescued at Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area in Imo State even as he condemned the ugly trend of people making money from child trafficking and other illegal means in the State.
He appealed
to parents to find a way of accepting and taking care of their daughters if a
situation of unwanted pregnancy occurs, adding that most of the recued pregnant
teenagers were forced out of their homes by their parents because they (their
parents) did not want to be saddled with the responsibility of taking care of
them(the pregnant teenagers)
Speaking
further at the occasion, the governor charged the Conference of Catholic
Bishops of Nigeria and the church at large to partner with the State government
in its determination to check crime especially child trafficking, illegal
adoption, armed robbery and kidnapping.
Adding her voice, the First Lady, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, thanked Governor Okorocha for showing love and care to the helpless in the society and assured that she would take care of the pregnant girls as directed by him.
Earlier in
his remarks, the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria,
Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama who coincidentally, was at the Government House for
a courtesy visit, described human life as sacred which should not be toyed
with.
Kaigama who is also the Catholic Bishop of Jos, said that trafficking and baby making factory are clear cases of immorality and should not be encouraged in our society.
Kaigama who is also the Catholic Bishop of Jos, said that trafficking and baby making factory are clear cases of immorality and should not be encouraged in our society.
Also present
at the occasion is the Catholic Bishop of Owerri Province, His Grace, Most
Reverend Anthony Obinna and other distinguished clerics.
Thank you very much indeed the Governor and your wife for such a magnaminous gesture. Can I humbly suggest you keep those children after delivery other than giving them back to their mothers. Let them become government property. Otherwise they will still go out there and sell the babies cos their mind has been criminalized and their bidders will still trail them for negotiation.I know is their civil right to keep their babies if they want but they have contravened the law and abuse their human right. They are all complicit in the crime otherwise they wouldn't have gone hiding with the intention of making money through selling their babies in the first place . The government can now give the children out to a well screened couples who desparately need them. In which case a legal adoption should be made accessible by being less breaucratic and less expensive/subsidised. This will put smiles on the face of childless couples and create responsible mum and dad/homes for the innocent children.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with Donna. Pls we are one of the responsible desparate couples in need of children. We are willing to undergo a proper adoption. Contact Mr and Mrs Iwu. Madoiwuagwu@yahoo.com. Phone: 08108500300. Pls Kindly forward our appeal to the appropriate authority incharge. Thanks
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