By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Nigeria Red Cross Society Abakaliki Branch have officially handed over recovered and abandoned twin baby boys born by insane mother to the father and relatives in Abakaliki.
This exercise was done after the proper rehabilitation of the children at the Nigeria Red Cross Society office, no.3 Nsugbe street Abakaliki, the state capital.
Speaking, the head of department, Child Development in Ebonyi state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Mr. Godwin Igwe said the children was on earlier February this year found by a good Nigerian and took them to the Nigeria Police Force Ebonyi state who brought them to the ministry for care, pending the treatment of the lunatic mother.
Igwe stated that the ministry took the children to the remanded home at the Red Cross Society Nsugbe in the same February.
According to Mr. Igwe, the Ministry has been paying thirty thousand naira Monthly for the upkeep and maintenance of the children, adding that the release of the twins came to lime light following the approval of the letter written to the Ministry and that of the family of the children which after granting them family social interview had Convinced beyond reasonable doubt that they are true owner of the children and would take care of them properly.
In furtherance, Mr. Igwe told the parents not pay even one naira to the Ministry as their humanitarian job would be reward only by God not humans but hinted that they would keep the children under their own surveillance to ensure they are adequately cared for at all times.
He appreciated the state Governor David Umahi for what he has done in respect to cases of children in the state adding that it was only in Ebonyi, in the whole South East that cases of abandoned children are used to be traced and hand over to the parents freely because of his care to orphans and vulnerable children.
However, Igwe extolled Nigeria police force for working harmoniously to ensure abandoned children don’t run into wrong hands and also thanked the out going commissioner of Women affairs for given them an opportunity to render selfless service to humanity and,as well,salute the present permanent Secretary who has indicated interest to continue the good work of the former commissioner in the area of child protection.
He admonished parents of the children to do everything possible to ensure they placed them in the favorable atmosphere while stressing to decisively dealt with them if found maltreating the children.
Also speaking, the representative of Family Law center Abakaliki Mrs. Ali Ijeoma told us that she worked in collaboration with Ministry of Women Affairs and the family of the children to ensure everything went smoothly.
She congratulated Motherless Babies Care Givers for their support and others who have contributed immensely for the upbringing of the children.
On his part, Chairman Red Cross Society Ebonyi. state Chief Simon Nweze lauded Governor Umahi for his assistance to them at all times and promised to continue to discharge his duties accordingly in the fear God to ameliorate sufferings of such children in the state.
In his speech, the father of the twins Mr. Ogbonna Ebonyi a native of Ndiebor Nkaliki, Abakaliki Local Government Area expressed satisfaction for the love and care demonstrated to his children by the Ministry, others and thanked the Governor of the state David Umahi for his effort in ensuring the
welfare of such children in the state are properly taken care of.
Meanwhile, the grandmother of the children Mrs. Rose Nwigwe thanked God for not allowing the twins to ran into wrong hands and assured for their adequate care always.
Item such as,Wrappers, shirts indomie, rice and other food items were made available to the children as gift.
