Niger Delta
A’Ibom Receives18 Abandoned Children
The Akwa Ibom State Government has taken custody of 18 children from an NGO, the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN).
Officials of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare told newsmen in Eket that the exercise, which began last week, would continue with the remaining children in the private orphanage run by the NGO.
CRARN runs a shelter for some 200 abandoned children accused of witchcraft by members of their communities in Southern Akwa Ibom.
The children, however, resisted the offer to transfer them to another centre but agreed to go with the ministry officials to inspect the new home promised by the officials.
Eighteen out of the 200 children in the orphanage volunteered to go with the officials who conveyed them to Uyo in a luxury bus.
Most of the remaining children cried uncontrollably as the bus conveyed their colleagues away from the centre.
Some of the children told The Tide’s source that they were sad to miss their friends who were taken away by the government officials.
The Chairman of the State Task Force and Child Trafficking Rescue Team, Mr Wisdom Udoka, alleged that the children were not properly taken care of in the private home.
According to the chairman, there is no adequate care for the children in all the private homes being run by the NGOs.
“We have provided a brand new home for the children; they will stay in the home pending when they will be reunited with their families in due course.
“We have been working hand in hand with CRARN and there is nothing we do in the centre without carrying them along,” he added.
Reacting to the concerns expressed by CRARN that there was no notice from the ministry on the takeover of the children, Udoka said the ministry got information that the children lacked adequate care.
Earlier, Mr Bassey Antai, the Administrative Officer of CRARN, had maintained that the visit was impromptu as the ministry did not give them prior notice.
“I want to say with all sense of humility that we are disappointed with the way these children are being hurriedly and forcefully removed by the government without any prior information.
“It is indeed a relief to us at CRARN that government is coming to assist with the welfare of these children.
“We welcome the idea but we strongly feel that it should be a process that will involve us and the children as well as the documentation of the children.
“We were shown a letter written by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Eunice Thomas, asking us to hand over the children in our custody,” Antai said.
She said CRARN had been working on reunification and reconciliation of the children with their families to decongest the limited facilities at the centre.
The Director, Global Media International, Mr Atah Ikiddeh, commended the humanitarian services rendered by CRARN by rescuing and keeping the stigmatised children who were accused of witchcraft.
Ikiddeh, however, noted that the state government had the resources and capacity to take good care of the children and reunite them with their families.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.