Kaduna State Government has expressed its determination to demolish any orphanage home that engages in child trafficking or any sharp practices in its operations.
The Commissioner for Human Development and Social Services, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, who made this known on Tuesday, revealed that three orphanages are now slated for demolition.
The Commissioner said that the orphanages being investigated for alleged child trafficking are located in Barnawa, Sabon Tasha and Narayi communities.
She said, recently, some suspected child traffickers were arrested and that investigation is ongoing, saying if found guilty their orphanage homes would be demolished.
She said; “If they owned the houses, it would be demolished, if they are renting the orphanage homes the C of O will be revoked.”
The Commissioner noted that the state government would not tolerate people coming to set up under the guise of an orphanage while they are conducting illegal businesses especially child trafficking.
She explained that the state has a law on this and it’s unacceptable. “This is a government that will not tolerate such things because we have to set an example to others so that others will also learn,” she assured.
The commissioner said that she has already sent a strong message to the leadership of orphanages within the state, assuring that the state government would not tolerate any illegal activity of any type in the orphanages.
Hajiya Hafsat also warned most orphanages that they have no right not to give the children for adoption because the children belong to the government.
She added, “We are also investigating this new idea of keeping the children for safe keeping as claimed by some orphanages because we will not tolerate using the children to make money.
“We will not accept any orphanages keeping children until they grow up because we believe every child needs parents and a home to live in.”
