ELIZABETH VINCENT, Yenagoa

 

 

The Bayelsa State Ministry of Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development, in partnership with the Benny Development Initiative (BDI), has rescued a one-year-old baby from child traffickers who forcefully took custody from his parents, who are said to be mentally unstable.

 

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BDI, Mrs. Benita Opia, when the wife of the mentally unstable man, Otobo Godknows, conceived, he took care of her until the delivery day and their neighbor decided to take them in until he approached one Mrs. Chinyere, who expressed willingness to help the couple.

 

Explaining further, she said that Mrs. Chinyere supported the family as she had earlier promised, and that after the woman was delivered of a male child, the Good Samaritan took the child to her house under claim that the couple are not mentally stable enough to care for the child.

 

After several attempts by the couple to have access to their child, through the help of neighbors, Mr. Otobo traveled to his community to inform his family of his predicament and appealed to them to help take custody of his child.

 

Daily Champion learnt that when his family arrived at the home of Mrs. Chinyere in Mbiama, Ahoada West LGA, Rivers State, they went with bunches of plantain, palm oil and fish to beg her to give them the custody of the child, but she allegedly refused.

 

Mrs. Opia said, “When the effort of the family failed to yield results, they got information that my organization, BDI, could help. It was at that point that we stepped in.

 

We visited Madam Adaobi, who has been residing at Mbiam, to find out why she has refused to give the family custody of the child.

 

“On reaching Mbiam, we located the Police Headquarters around and told them our mission and we were allowed to carry out the operation.

 

Ada obi still did not agree to release the child but rather took us to the Paramount ruler. Prior to going there, someone living near Adaobi gave us information that he had been sponsoring the upkeep of the child.

 

“We also heard that the Women Affairs, whom I called to safeguard the child,d seemed to be compromised and had suspicions that there is a plan to hand over the child to the sponsor once he is one year old.

 

But our intervention from when the child was one month old, spoilt their plan.

 

“The challenge we were confronted with is the come today, come tomorrow by the Zonal Office zone 16.

 

It was at that point, we were able to compel her to come with the child to Zone 16 headquarters in Bayelsa.

 

State Ministry of Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development took me to court but after back and forth, the child was released to me and I in  turn handed over the child to the family.

 

“After some interaction with the Permanent Secretary,  I realized that I was not correct about my suspensions.

 

The ministry in consultation with the Matron of the Home handed over the child to me and the child now lives with his family.

 

I want to sincerely appreciate the Perm Sec and her team for their good work.” Mrs Opia ended.

 

For a better society

Follow us across our platforms:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/

You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2

The post Bayelsa Govt, BDI rescue one-year-old boy from child trafficker appeared first on Champion Newspapers LTD.