By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Imo State Government has inaugurated a special 10-man committee charged with the responsibility of tackling illegal child adoption and trafficking in the state.

Inaugurating the committee in Owerri, on behalf of Governor Rochas Okorocha, his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere explained that “the committee is to ensure that there is absolute respect for the dignity of human life, but also promotion of a responsible society.”

While affirming that there had been series of petitions and complaints about irregularities in the process of child adoption in the state, the Deputy Governor equally said that the complaints became more worrisome, following the global trend of child trafficking and other related problems associated with human trafficking and slavery.

“The first reaction of government was the temporary suspension of child adoption in the state. The action was to ensure that unscrupulous elements involved in the trade were checked, apprehended and prosecuted”, the Deputy Governor said.

He urged the committee members to pay  strict attention to their terms of reference, including ascertaining the root cause of the widespread anomalies associated with adoption of children and proffer solutions.