Four Children Sold At N60,000 Rescued By Lagos Govt.

No fewer than four children sold by their parents
and guardians for a minimum of N60, 000, to
aid their financial needs, have been rescued by
the Lagos State Government in the last one year.
187 cases of child abuse and domestic violence
were reported and treated by the state
government in the year under review, the State
government said.
at the 2013 ministerial Press Briefing held in
Alausa,Ikeja, to commemorate the sixth year
anniversary of Governor BabatundeFashola's
administration, Deputy Governor of Lagos state,
Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who also
doubles as the Commissioner for Women Affairs
and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, said that the last
one was rescued by the government six months
ago, adding "the child was rescued where it was
sold by her grandmother for N 300, 000."
"The state government also rescued four
children sold for a minimum of N60, 000. The
last was rescued about six months ago but we
have also rescued the child who was sold for
about N300, 000. This child we rescued is nine
months old now. Those children are in our
homes and we have sent them back to school, to
continue their studies. When their parents are
ready, they will come forward to reclaim their
babies. I remember that I brought this issue to
the state government six months ago. The
woman who bought the child travelled to
America and we had to wait for her to return and
we collected the baby from her.
"Presently, we are investigating a woman now
who we suspected bought all the five children in
her custody".
She assured residents of the state that
government will never relent in ensuring that
issues relating to child care wouldn't be treated
with levity. She further disclosed that the state
government has concluded plans to establish a
special mother centre where young girls who
were forced into pregnancy can be taken care of
until they deliver their babies.
"Also we created a mini-clinic closer to the
centre because they may want to deliver their
babies at the midnight.
"After delivery, we will keep their babies for
about five years. These children will be living in
our motherless home. We believe that by then,
they must have been able to acquire funds to
cater for the children. Sometimes, this may be
the only child they will be able to give birth to,"
she emphasized, saying it will help curb issues of
sold babies that may occur in the state.
She also warned that the state government
would intensifying its enforcement of the Child
Right Law and other laws related to domestic
violence in the state. She noted that the state
government recently embark on investigation
and it discovered that some residents of the state
have become agents to child trafficking in the
state.
The deputy Governor warned that there wouldn't
be any hiding place for defiler and others
violating the state laws in the state."ON THE
CHILD ABUSE AND OTHER CASES On the
breakdown, she said.
Giving a breakdown of the statistics, Orelope-
Adefulire said "53 cases of child trafficking/
labour, s*xual abuse; 43, Child Custody, 33; child
neglect 13, sale baby 2, physical abuse 37 and
teenage pregnancy 1.