The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), says Mr Christopher Nwoye, owner of Happy Home Orphanage, a controversial facility in Asaba, Delta, has surrendered to the agency.
This is contained in a statement by NAPTIP Press Officer, Mr Vincent Adekoye, on Thursday in Abuja.
NAPTIP had in a statement on Sept. 17 and 26, said that Nwoye was evading arrest.
Adekoye said that four other women from the state who were laying claim to some of the children rescued from the orphanage were currently being quizzed by the agency.
Freedomonline reports that the suspect (Nwoye) was said to have accommodate in his orphanage, children allegedly stolen from Kano, Gombe and other state in the northern region.
The NAPTIP press officer said that more than 70 children were discovered in the orphanage during a raid by operatives of the agency in June.
He said that some of the children alleged to have been bought by the orphanage were rescued by the agency during the raid.
He revealed that among the 70 children found in the orphanage were 15 newborn babies, with eight of them rescued, and traced to be part of those allegedly stolen from Kano and Gombe
Speaking on the development, the Director-General of the agency, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, said that, since the suspect had surrendered himself to the agency, investigation would commence in earnest.
“Mr Christopher Nwoye gave himself up today when he arrived at the Headquarters of NAPTIP, Abuja, in the company of his lawyer and women.
“He had before now turned down all entreaties to report to the agency for investigations.
“It is important to restate that the rescue operation by NAPTIP operatives at Happy Home Orphanage was not an abduction as the agency does not engage in such condemnable act.
“The action was a lawful undertaking under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, which empowers NAPTIP to investigate, rescue, and prosecute cases of trafficking, abduction, and related offences.
“It is very important that Mr Nwoye is in our facility now in connection with the alleged stolen children that were traced to his orphanage and rescued by operatives of NAPTIP. His presence is crucial to the ongoing investigation.
“It is also important for stakeholders, including the media to know that NAPTIP remains neutral in this matter,” she said
According to her, the children are rescued and are in a protective shelter with the best care pending the conclusion of the investigation,” she stressed.
The NAPTIP boss clarified that the children were not been forced to embrace another religion, and they would not be forced to do so.
Adamu-Bello said that the women who claimed ownership of the children and refused to respond to the agency’s invitation earlier, were also in the agency facility, and wer been interrogated to ascertain their claims
She added that the matter would be thoroughly investigated to uncover the truth, including the conduct of DNA, before a final decision would be taken on the parenthood of the children involved.
