12 children were rescued by the Lagos State Government from the custody of a Pastor, Onoyngu Chibuike, the founder of Voice of Salvation Charitable Organisation, who had been operating an illegal orphanage in Ojo since 2010.
Chibuike was arrested, last week, when one of the children took ill and was taken to hospital for medical attention.
Enquiries from the hospital about the medical history of the indisposed child revealed that Chibuike’s orphanage is not registered under the Lagos State Government.
During interrogation, the pastor claimed that he received a call from God to start the orphanage over six years ago to rescue helpless children from societal vices and misdemeanour and thus registered the orphanage with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2010. .
He said: “I am from Anambra State. I am called by God to render this service to humanity by helping the less privileged, such as widows, motherless children and homeless people.
I provide adequate care for these children till their parents can take over their care. For those that were abandoned, I train them even up to university level.
Some of these children here were brought to me by the police or their biological mothers, who in some instances claimed they had the children out of wedlock and they cannot attend to the needs of the children or shoulder their responsibilities.”
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile Yussuf, however, told the pastor that disciplinary actions would be taken against him, as ignorance is not an excuse under the law.
12 of the 15 children in his custody have immediately been taken over by the government. Chibuike was handed over to law enforcement agents for further investigation and disciplinary actions.
Chibuike was arrested, last week, when one of the children took ill and was taken to hospital for medical attention.
Enquiries from the hospital about the medical history of the indisposed child revealed that Chibuike’s orphanage is not registered under the Lagos State Government.
During interrogation, the pastor claimed that he received a call from God to start the orphanage over six years ago to rescue helpless children from societal vices and misdemeanour and thus registered the orphanage with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2010. .
He said: “I am from Anambra State. I am called by God to render this service to humanity by helping the less privileged, such as widows, motherless children and homeless people.
I provide adequate care for these children till their parents can take over their care. For those that were abandoned, I train them even up to university level.
Some of these children here were brought to me by the police or their biological mothers, who in some instances claimed they had the children out of wedlock and they cannot attend to the needs of the children or shoulder their responsibilities.”
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile Yussuf, however, told the pastor that disciplinary actions would be taken against him, as ignorance is not an excuse under the law.
12 of the 15 children in his custody have immediately been taken over by the government. Chibuike was handed over to law enforcement agents for further investigation and disciplinary actions.