Anambra State Government has ordered security operatives to begin clampdown on illegal motherless babies' homes.
The directive followed the expiration yesterday of the ultimatum by the government to illegal 'baby factories' engaging in child trafficking in the state to register or relocate.
The governor's wife, Mrs. Margaret Obi, announced this while inspecting motherless babies' homes and orphanages in the state.
The governor's wife urged the police to prosecute the operators to serve as a deterrent to others.
She said anybody caught trafficking children would be dealt with severely as the era of indulging in violence and evil acts against children was over.
Obi also announced the names of the 18 officially registered orphanages and motherless babies' homes and handed over the list to the police.
She, however, instructed the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to ensure all illegal homes are shut with the help of law enforcement agents.
The governor's wife represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Henrietta Agbata, visited three homes in Onitsha – Arrows of God, Red Cross Motherless Babies' Home and Crowther Motherless Babies' Home.
Others in the team were ministry officials such as the Permanent Secretary, Lady Gloria Okeke and the Director, Child Development, Mr. Emeka Ejide.
She said the ministry would visit all the child care centres to determine their level of compliance to the rules and regulations setting them up.
Obi reiterated the commitment of the state to eradicate all evil acts against children even as she announced the renaming of motherless babies' homes to community children's homes.
This, she said, was in line with the request of the Children Parliament led by Speaker, Hon. Ken Michael Uchime, to Governor Peter Obi because, according to the children, the motherless name is discriminatory and stigmatising hence, Obi approved it.
Speaking in her own capacity as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Agbata commended Obi's wife for the bold step aimed at safeguarding the rights of the children.
Agbata said the community children's homes would be registered as associations dully recognised by government to enable them checkmate the activities of illegal ones.
She gave the names of the homes officially registered as Tender Love Orphanage, Awka; Faith Orphanage, Awka; Anambra East Motherless Babies' Home, Otuocha; Arrows of God Orphanage, GRA Onitsha; Court Road Motherless Babies home Onitsha; Crowther Motherless Babies' Home, Onitsha; Nigerian Red Cross Motherless Babies' Home, Nnewi and Divine Mercy Motherless and Less Privileged Home, Ozubulu.
Others are Nigerian Red Cross Motherless Babies' Home, Onitsha; Model Motherless Babies' Home Awka; Nnewi South Motherless Babies' Home, Amichi; Umunna Street Motherless Babies' Home, Onitsha; Perpetual Help for Orphans, Vulnerable Persons Care, Amawbia; Madona Angel's Motherless Babies' Home, Atani and Idemmili North Motherless Babies' Home, Umuoji.
The three compassionate homes that made it 18 are Help of Christians Home, Aguleri where parents take their daughters for delivery and take back their daughters and children; Missionaries of Charity Motherless Babies' Home, Onitsha and Mother of Christ Compassionate Home, Onitsha where unwanted babies, products of incest and children with HIV/AIDS are taken care of.
The three homes have about 32 inmates and eight children with HIV.
Source: Anambra begins clampdown on 'baby factories' (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/anambra-begins-clampdown-on-baby-factories/)