IFEATU (not real name), 16, and in senior secondary school 2, suddenly discovered that she was pregnant for her trader boyfriend, Obinna.When she informed Obinna of the development, he warned her not to associate him with such a thing because he had just been released by his master after six of years apprenticeship and was just settling down to nurture his own business and therefore did not want any distraction.
Afraid of telling her parents of her predicament, Ifeatu confided in her school mate who agreed to take her somewhere her problem could be solved.
Both went to a private hospital in Onitsha and it was there that Ifeatu was directed to a woman who ran an orphanage home in the town who told her that she had to reside in the home until her delivery and that she would be attending ante-natal clinic at the same hospital that directed her to the orphanage.
That was how Ifeatu went back home, packed her things and moved into the orphanage without informing her parents. It was the owner of the home that later informed the parents of Ifeatu where their daughter was and why she ran away from home.
The experience of Ifeatu is becoming a common phenomenon in many cities like Onitsha, Aba , Owerri and other places where there exist the compassionate homes. Investigations have shown that the business has continued to boom because some proprietors of the homes have turned them into places to lure pregnant girls and paying them off after delivery. Usually, papers are signed on the arrival of the girls that they would not be given their babies after delivery as they would be compensated for their labour.
Indeed, the girls are well fed and taken good care of during their stay in the homes. Sometimes, the doctor that is in liaison with the homes attends to the girls instead of the girls going to hospital for ante nantal to avoid the prying eyes of the public.
After delivery, the girls are paid money ranging from N40,000 – N70,000 for male child and N20,000 – N30,000 for the female. Whatever happens to the child thereafter is not their business. It was discovered that because of the money, some of the girls have turned it into business as they return to the homes on their own after few months of delivery with new pregnancies.
The selling of the babies to childless couples appears to be the main attraction and that is where misunderstanding occurs sometimes. For instance, an orphanage operator in whose facility in Ihiala was allegedly found harbouring about 30 pregnant girls, said there was no way she could be doing the business of such magnitude without the knowledge of the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs. She alleged, for instance, that a 15- month old baby from the home was taken away by some officials of the ministry, adding that the whereabouts of the baby were still shrouded in secrecy.
Mr. Emeka Ejide, director of child development in the state ministry of women affairs, however, confirmed that the baby was undergoing fostering process and that documents on the baby and pictures of those that brought him were intact. According to him, it was never a business deal between the ministry and the orphanage operator as being alleged.
Ejide said it was diversionary for the operator to talk about a baby undergoing a fostering process, adding that the reason her home was raided was because she was engaged in activities that were against the purpose of establishing it.
According to him, there are 17 approved compassionate homes in the state and that any of them stood the risk of being closed down if it failed to abide by the terms of its establishment. “Some homes may be legal today and illegal tomorrow depending on their activities,” he said.
Mrs. Ego Uzoezie, the Anambra State commissioner for women affairs and social development, who also spoke on the issue, said her ministry has zero tolerance for child exploitation and abuse and noted that although unprecedented challenges were encountered in trying to protect the rights of children, their welfare can never be compromised.
Both went to a private hospital in Onitsha and it was there that Ifeatu was directed to a woman who ran an orphanage home in the town who told her that she had to reside in the home until her delivery and that she would be attending ante-natal clinic at the same hospital that directed her to the orphanage.
That was how Ifeatu went back home, packed her things and moved into the orphanage without informing her parents. It was the owner of the home that later informed the parents of Ifeatu where their daughter was and why she ran away from home.
The experience of Ifeatu is becoming a common phenomenon in many cities like Onitsha, Aba , Owerri and other places where there exist the compassionate homes. Investigations have shown that the business has continued to boom because some proprietors of the homes have turned them into places to lure pregnant girls and paying them off after delivery. Usually, papers are signed on the arrival of the girls that they would not be given their babies after delivery as they would be compensated for their labour.
Indeed, the girls are well fed and taken good care of during their stay in the homes. Sometimes, the doctor that is in liaison with the homes attends to the girls instead of the girls going to hospital for ante nantal to avoid the prying eyes of the public.
After delivery, the girls are paid money ranging from N40,000 – N70,000 for male child and N20,000 – N30,000 for the female. Whatever happens to the child thereafter is not their business. It was discovered that because of the money, some of the girls have turned it into business as they return to the homes on their own after few months of delivery with new pregnancies.
The selling of the babies to childless couples appears to be the main attraction and that is where misunderstanding occurs sometimes. For instance, an orphanage operator in whose facility in Ihiala was allegedly found harbouring about 30 pregnant girls, said there was no way she could be doing the business of such magnitude without the knowledge of the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs. She alleged, for instance, that a 15- month old baby from the home was taken away by some officials of the ministry, adding that the whereabouts of the baby were still shrouded in secrecy.
Mr. Emeka Ejide, director of child development in the state ministry of women affairs, however, confirmed that the baby was undergoing fostering process and that documents on the baby and pictures of those that brought him were intact. According to him, it was never a business deal between the ministry and the orphanage operator as being alleged.
Ejide said it was diversionary for the operator to talk about a baby undergoing a fostering process, adding that the reason her home was raided was because she was engaged in activities that were against the purpose of establishing it.
According to him, there are 17 approved compassionate homes in the state and that any of them stood the risk of being closed down if it failed to abide by the terms of its establishment. “Some homes may be legal today and illegal tomorrow depending on their activities,” he said.
Mrs. Ego Uzoezie, the Anambra State commissioner for women affairs and social development, who also spoke on the issue, said her ministry has zero tolerance for child exploitation and abuse and noted that although unprecedented challenges were encountered in trying to protect the rights of children, their welfare can never be compromised.
A staff of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Mrs. Ijeoma Okoronkwo, whose agency is collaborating with the police and other organizations on the issue of child abuse and trafficking, insisted that they would continue to close down illegal orphanages and those that violate the rules governing adoption of children.
Also, the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the command would continue to investigate the activities of homes that hide pregnant girls and pay them off after delivery of their babies.
He said a decision would be taken after investigations on whether the girls in the homes should be handed over to their parents, decrying what he called the bizarre attitude of turning motherless babies’ homes into centers for the sale of babies. He also warned men to desist from deceiving girls by putting them into situations that undermine their future.
But the proprietor of the home, where the 30 girls were allegedly found, insisted that the inmates were brought to her Foundation with the consent of their parents and guardians, even as she denied the allegation that she was also performing abortion in the home.
But the proprietor of the home, where the 30 girls were allegedly found, insisted that the inmates were brought to her Foundation with the consent of their parents and guardians, even as she denied the allegation that she was also performing abortion in the home.
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