PA News

Orphanage where robbers steal only female inmates

Inmates, officials and the corps member

 

An orphanage, run by a missionary couple in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has become an instant attraction to armed robbers.

Unfortunately, the robbers, maybe out of disappointment of not seeing other things of value to cart away, have resorted to stealing the children in the home. The snag is, they prefer the females to the males. They take the girls, rape them and later return them to the home.

This pathetic story was told by the proprietor of the home, Bishop Evans Udoekaisong, when a youth corps member, serving in the state, Miss Chidinma Mmeje, went to the orphanage recently to present some gift items to the inmates.
Bishop Udoekaisong lamented that when the hoodlums struck last year, they stole two female children, raped them and later returned them to the home.

“The greatest challenge, among lack of food, clothing, books, school supplies, medical care and others, is the problem of insecurity. There is no complete perimeter fence around the home. Two children were stolen at night, we reported to the police, but they were not found. After nine months, they were returned but abused. That is why we need to put a fence around the home. We need assistance. Nature has deprived these children of joy, but God has not. We are caring for these children because we love them,” he said.

He said the vision to undertake the humanitarian service was very compelling in his youthful age. And, backed by the passion he has for the downtrodden, he established the orphanage in 2008.
According to the director, the home, christened St James 1:27, has different programmes for the children, some of whom have graduated from the primary school in the home to various secondary schools sponsored by the home. “Our objective is to train them from nursery to university level. We pray that God should bring people to assist them. Those we cannot train, we will give them vocational training”, he said.

The wife of the director and matron of the home, Mrs. Janet Udoekaisong explained that the orphanage has, in the past five years, cared for children. He said the parents of some of the kids could not be traced, as they had been picked from the streets. She expressed her gratitude to the corps member and prayed God’s blessings upon her for remembering the orphans.

The youth corps member, Miss Mmeji who hails from Ideato Local Government area of Imo State and serves with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic Persons and other related matters, Uyo zonal office, went on the visit in company with her fellow youth corps members, and donated lots of items like beverages and toiletries. She said that was her token contribution to the less privileged in the society.

Mmeji urged the children to be of good conduct and aspire for the best in life even as she prayed that God would never let them down. She said her venture into the project was inspired by her love for children and the have-nots in the society, and as a measure to contribute to the fight against trafficking in persons.
The home, which is the only orphanage in Esit Eket Local Government Area, has about fifty children as inmates, and a school, Akon International Nursery and Primary School for the children within the premises. The orphanage and school are being managed by the bishop and his wife, Mrs. Janet Udoekaisong.

Daily Sun

Lagos Nigeria