By Monsuru Olowoopejo

Lagos State government has rescued 12 children from Voice of Salvation Charitable Organization, an alleged illegal orphanage in Ojo Local Government which had been in existence since 2010.

Also, the coordinator of the centre, Pastor Onoyngu Chibuike, has been handed over to the Nigerian Police, Lagos Command, for operating an alleged illegal orphanage home.

It was learned that activities at the home was discovered last week when one of the children in the home became ill and was taken to a hospital (name withheld).

Sources said that enquiries from the hospital about the medical history of the sick child revealed the owner of the home, even as it was discovered that the orphanage home was allegedly not registered under the Lagos State Government as stipulated in the law.

The tip off from the medical officials spurred officials of the state ministry of Youth and Social Development and the state special task force on environment and special offences into action. But they could not rescue the children immediately.

Vanguard gathered that 12 of the 15 children found in the home were immediately taken over by the State Government and were placed under the care of the government until suitable homes would be secured for them.

It was further learned that two of the fifteen children still at the orphanage home at the time of interrogation would also be taken into proper care of the state government while the last child still on admission in the hospital would be monitored by the state government officials until it is discharged.

 I had prophecy to operate the home — Suspect

During interrogation led by the commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, at the State ministry of Youth and Social Development, Alausa secretariat, Ikeja on Monday, Chibuike argued that received the prophecy from God to establish the orphanage home six years ago.

He noted that the aim of the home was to rescue helpless children from societal vices and misdemeanour’s, saying “I have registered the home at Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2010.”

His words: “I am a native of Anambra State. I am called by God to render this service to humanity by helping the less privileged such as widows, motherless children and homeless people. I provide adequate care for these children till their parents can take over their care. For those that were abandoned, I train them even up to university level.

“These children were acquired through different means. He said, “some of these children here were brought to me by the police, some were brought by their biological mothers who in some instances claimed they had the children out of wedlock and they cannot attend to the needs of the children or shoulder their responsibilities.

 His action is against the law — Govt

The commissioner during the interrogation, maintained that disciplinary actions would be taken against him after further investigations is carried out by the police, stressing that ignorance is not an excuse under the law.

“When you operate an illegal orphanage in Lagos, it is a criminal offence. Your registration with CAC does not give you any license to operate an orphanage in Lagos. Here we operate with the law that guides us. Orphanage is not a charitable organization you feel God has guided you to go and assist people.