Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Gombe state Governor Inuwa Yahaya, on Friday said the state is yet to recover children adopted from the state from 2018 to 2019 to various parts of the country.
Yahaya revealed this when he received the Minister of Women Affairs, at the Excos Chamber in Gombe.
He stated that out of the number recovered recently none of the children are of Gombe descent, adding that efforts are on towads domesticating the Child Right Act and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in the state.
Yahaya added that efforts are ongoing towards unraveling the paternity of children so far recovered to settle them with their families.
According to Yahaya, “Between 2018 to 2019 about 21 children are missing. Most of the children are aged between 2-3 years. Those we got from Anambra recently not even one is from Gombe. They had to go on another mission to Delta because of the confession of the woman who was brought here who is under interrogation and only two children were discovered to be from Gombe.
“After someone losses a child for 2-3 years, especially if he goes to a place that has a different culture and as small children they may even forget their parents.
“One of them has gone to Kaduna for DNA test to determine the parenthood of the child while the rest are still pending which is a serious issue.
“Like Gender violence this one too (kidnap) is worst and it is a global issue especially the North states, and the victims are usually taken to other states and before you know it the danger inflicted on the people may hardly be redeemed.”
Speaking Earlier, Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs appreciated the effort of the governor in rescuing the adopted children adding that concerted should be place in assenting girl child friendly laws and encouraging girl child education.
Tallen who conferred on Yahaya the honour of ‘He for She’ for believing the roles of women.
“We are happy that the culprits of the kidnap case of the young children have been caught and the matter is being looked into. I have spoken with the Governor and wife of Anambra state to ensure they check the so called orphanages where our children are adopted and taken to,” she said.
