The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has
sealed Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home in Kagini, Abuja, over
allegations of illegal child trafficking and other child welfare violations.
The Director of Child Development at the FCT Women
Affairs Secretariat, Idris Attah, confirmed the development in an official
notice issued on Monday, stating that the facility was shut pending the outcome
of investigations into its activities involving children.
According to the notice, the proprietress of the
orphanage, Grace Ebele Chibuzor, allegedly absconded with an unspecified number
of children to an unknown location without notifying the Child Development
Department of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.
“This is to inform FCT residents and the general
public that Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home, Kagini, Abuja, has
been officially sealed effective Monday, January 5, 2026, pending investigation
into its activities concerning children,” the statement read.
“The proprietress, Grace Ebele Chibuzor, absconded
with an unspecified number of children to an unknown destination without
notifying the Child Development Department,” it added.
Preliminary investigations have reportedly linked the
orphanage to a recent case involving four siblings who were allegedly stolen
from Ado in Nasarawa State and taken to Gwagwalada in the FCT. The children —
Joefreey Kasal Asoja (11), David Mtsewe Asoja (7), Joy Elsan Asoja (4), and
Joseph Asoja (2) — were reunited with their biological parents on Monday.
“Investigations have revealed links to the recent case
of four siblings stolen from Ado, Nasarawa State, to Gwagwalada, Abuja-FCT, who
were happily reunited with their biological parents on Monday, January 5,
2026,” the statement said.
Authorities also alleged a collaboration between the
orphanage and Anderson Archibong, the Executive Secretary of the National
Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN), who is currently at
large.
According to Attah, the partnership is suspected to
have facilitated the illegal movement of children from states including Benue
and Nasarawa into Abuja for unauthorised fostering and adoption.
He urged members of the public with relevant
information regarding the whereabouts of the missing children or the suspects
involved to report immediately to the nearest security agency.
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