Gov. Otti receives rescued kidnapped siblings

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

To stem the use of motherless and orphanage homes for children trafficking, Abia state governor, Dr Alex Otti OFR says the dictates of the child’s right act must be implemented by the executive.

Abia state ministry of women affairs has stipulated guidelines running orphanages, yet people discountenance them and operate illegal homes.

The governor, Dr. Alex Otti formally received the three rescued abducted siblings from Amaoba-Ime Oboro, Ikwuano LGA of the state, and thanked God and all those who worked assiduously for the rescue of the children.

On May 10, the three children,Gideon 8, Divine 6 and Israel 4 were abducted while returning home from school and were allegedly sold off to different persons in different states.

The security agencies had been on the manhunt of the perpetrators as well as the children and have successfully rescued the children as well as arrested suspects including a reverend sister.

Receiving the children alongside their parents and other well wishers at his residence in Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South LGA saturday, the governor expressed joy that the children have finally been reunited with their parents and used the forum to admonish parents to be more careful about the safety and security of their children.

“I will like to also admonish parents to be more careful because this was avoidable. First of all, you should not hand over you children to people you do not know, be they Keke or Okada riders. There is nothing you’re doing that is more important than looking after your children. That is my word to parents, grandparents and everybody who has something to do with one Abia child or another. It is very very important that we take their security, comfort and safety very seriously.

“A lot of lessons have been learnt from this and I believe we shouldn’t let this kind of thing repeat itself,” he said.

He however implored security operatives who took part in the rescue operations to follow through and ensure that everyone involved in the abduction is prosecuted and brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

The governor pledged that the government would support the rescued children in the best way that it deemed fit and recommended that communities go back to the positive culture of seeing all children as their own.He reassured of his administration’s commitment to secure the state and develop the economy, pointing out that this cannot be possible without security.

“One of the promises that we made to our people is that we must secure the State. Even if it was not our intention to secure the state; but because it is our intention to develop the state and grow our economy, none of those can happen without security.

“So when you see me working very hard, visiting security agencies and their heads, it is to sit down and be able to map out a security architecture that works for all of us.”

Governor Otti further served criminals in the state a quit notice that Abia is not safe for them as government has put in place a robust security architecture, adding that government is creating an economy where everyone that has genuine business will participate.

“I had told criminals, I have sent them notice that this place cannot contain themselves and us, one person must run away. And unfortunately I’m not the one that would run, because I have the mandate of the people and I have the mandate of God. So it’s the evil ones that would run away, even to start running before somebody starts pursuing them and that is what we are seeing.”We are also creating a robust economy that will accommodate everyone that has a genuine intention and genuine job to do.”

Narrating how the children were rescued, the Mayor of Ikwuano Comrade Osinachi Nwaka, said the rescue unfolded in three stages, pointing out that he personally led the first operation in Ekwulobia Anambra State.

He described the rescue as a remarkable triumph, and saluted the unwavering commitment of the Governor and security agencies and commended Governor Otti for restoring safety and security in Abia.

Earlier the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd) lauded the optimism of the Governor which gingered the Mayor and others who participated in the operation and described him as a father.

Also, the member representing Ikwuano state constituency, Mr. Boniface Isienyi said that he would be proposing a bill in the coming days to give a legal backing to the guidelines of the ministry of women affairs which stipulates that anyone who wants to run a social home must be registered with the State Ministry of Women Affairs.