Rescued Children say they are happier

Over 200 children who were evacuated by the Akwa Ibom State Government from the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network, CRARN centre in Eket have expressed profound appreciation to the Government for coming to their aid.

The rescued children who are currently being accommodated at the Uyo Local Government Security Village, Babangida Avenue, Uyo barred their mind yesterday when the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Eunice Thomas in company of her counterpart in the Information and Social Re-Orientation Ministry, Mr. Aniekan Umanah visited them.

Despite thanking the mgt of CRARN for the sacrifice on their behalf,they however stated clearly that given an option between their former home and the present one, they would prefer the latter.

Speaking on behalf of their colleagues, Bright Samuel Bassey and Uduak Sampson Eyo who both hail from Esit Eket, said they are better off in their present accommodation, the Security Village and as such they are not regretting leaving their former abode at CRARN, since according to them they were abandoned by Mr Samuel Itauma, the head of the centre to their own fate. 

They revealed that they felt rejected and dejected at their former location, CRARN when suddenly the owner of the centre was no where to be found as they felt insecured.  They said since they were abandoned by the management of the centre, they were roaming about with nobody to feed them in most instances.

They said with the concern shown towards them by the State Government by evacuating them to a decent accommodation, they remained grateful to Governor Godswill Akpabio and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

The children who were seen playing around in the open yards in the well secured facility, latter queued decently to get their evening meals.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Eunice Thomas dispel rumours making the rounds that the State Government had forcefully taken the children away from where they were comfortable, adding that rather, the Government upon being informed that the children were abandoned by Mr. Samuel Itauma, decided to move swiftly to evacuate the helpless children to a comfortable accommodation.

She expressed happiness that the children were already comfortable in the Security Village and hinted that the Government was making moves to camp them in a permanent facility.  The Commissioner described as false, the information being peddled in the internet concerning the children and urged the public to discountenance such information.

Mrs Thomas also threw more light on the 21 children that government earlier rescued from the open vicinity of the Eket stadium and the dilapidated Qua River Hotel.

 
She said government intervened when the inhuman condition of the children were brought to its notice, especially when the children were noticed to be prone to intrusion and other dangers, while Stepping Stones that claimed to be taking care of them also failed in securing them or providing the starving children with food and other basic needs.

 Also speaking the Commissioner for Information and Social Re-Orientation, Mr Aniekan Umanah warned that Government would not hesitate to deal with parents who abandon their children as he reminded them of the existence of the Child Rights Protection Law which the present administration enacted.

The Commissioner also assured that Government will do all in its ability to ensure that the children are secured and catered for.  He called on parents to show greater interest and love and care for them as they are the future leaders of the State.