Gombe Ministry denies selling child discovered in pit laterine
Director Child Development, Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Joseph Markus, on Wednesday denied allegations that the Government outfit was involved in trading a ‘controversial’ child.
Markus made this disclosure in an interview with our correspondent in Gombe, where he disclosed that the ministry was given to protection of children and women’s right.
The Director dispelled insinuations that a child delivered by one Vivian Alhaji, was recovered from toilet after delivery was traded illegally, stressing that its desire to protect human dignity was not in doubt.
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Our Correspondent reports that Alhaji mother of the child having put to birth a baby girl threw the child into a pit laterine an incident that occured on 2nd May, 2022, but the baby was rescued by one Monica Musa on the same day.
Trouble began when Musa alleged that officials of the ministry were in the know of the rescue and her intent to foster the child, a position the Ministry claimed was false as they got an inkling of the situation by the police.
According to him, the right of human dignity was beyond negotiation through agreement of two parties, adding that those whose job it was protecting human dignity would not be involved in human trafficking.
Markus said, “Child survival, growth , protection and rescue of children are the cardinal and statutory mandate of the Ministry under child development department.
“The people Monica Musa claimed came to her house were not authorised by the Ministry and do not represent the Ministry. No staff in the ministry will pay a Kobo to carry out his or her duty especially on rescuing an abused child.
“The claims that they are making on the issue of selling is untrue and to mislead the public. We challenge anybody to name just one single person (s) that bought a baby in the Ministry at the given time and the amount.”
While lamenting on the damages the Ministry had suffered, he revealed that the state does not have adoption laws, but fostering laws.
“In Gombe State as at present we don’t operate or have adoption laws yet what we have is fostering laws and provisions of fostering law allows all responsible Nigerian to apply and be given (baby) if he or she is found eligible,” Markus added.
