AMAZING STORY OF BABY PRECIOUS
It is no longer news that baby Precious was caged by her auntie who has seven children of her own and yet to chose to maltreat this innocent child growing under her care simply because baby precious' parents died and left her in this wicked world! The difference here is that, Gdev News was at Special Children Centre Akure, capital city of Ondo state and spoke live to the ASP in charge of the centre. Here you will find out the truth surrounding the story of baby precious.
May we meet you ma?
My name is Asp Ojumu Olayemi Olatosi. I'm in charge of Special Children Centre, A division, Akure, Ondo state.
Tell us briefly what this centre is all about?
Well, the centre is all about the Children, husbands and wives. But because we said it is for children, therefore it is for children. Our focus is on child abuse cases and trafficking. If you look round, you see the ills and wickedness being dished out on these children by some wicked persons or even their parents! So what we normally do in case of any report, we move into action, bring the abused child or children here and then wait for the outcome of the case.
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| Abandoned cage where baby precious stayed |
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| Abandoned Cage. |
The centre is in collaboration with the ministry of women affairs. United Nations and Unicef. Presently, none of these organisations is funding the centre. We are managing it the little way we can. The police is the one funding it for now. We thank God for our Cp(s) and the D.P.O, A division. If we have any challenge, we quickly run to them and they assist us. But for the ministry of women affairs, we are still asking them to assist us because children is everybody's business.
So, can we be right to say, this is an initiative of the NPF(Nigeria Police Force)?
Yes, Special Children Centre is currently one of it's kind in the whole country. The NPF had JWC (Juvenile Welfare Centre) before now. Therefore the police is not all about security alone but also about welfare of children.
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| Baby Precious BEFORE |
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| Baby Precious BEFORE |
Right, we also observed that you have an interesting case right now at the centre and that is on baby precious. Can you let us into herstory?
Well, glory to God for baby precious is doing so well now. An information got to us on the 13th of June 2016 that a child was caged at Imafo. So rushing down there, we met the child inside the bush not even inside the cage. That was where she slept! Cages are built for animals but in this case, cages are built for babies eg Baby precious. We rushed her out and took her straight to police clinic. Thank God for the police doctor we met on duty. Immediately they attended to us, asking for blood donation for her. Myself and the audley to the D.P.O, "A" Division donated some pants of blood and the treatment was done.
Thank God baby Precious is hail and hearty!
Somebody most be responsible for this wicked act. Was it any of her relatives?
Yes, the woman in question is her aunt. She said she suspected baby precious is having Hiv disease which she got from her late parents. So for her own children not to be affected, she had to relocate her out in a bush.
But is it true, baby precious is having the disease?
No. From all indication, no result showing such evidence.
What is the police department doing in this case now?
The case will soon be in court Soon. The police can only charge the case, it is left for the magistrate to prosecute it. I know everyone will be interested in this case. Even if they free her from the court, how about the punishments that awaits such a criminal act from the almighty? Anyways, baby precious is doing so well! Even if the case of adoption comes up now, I will let it be.
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| Baby Precious NOW |
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| Baby Precious NOW |
Is your centre into adoption of children?
No, we are not. But if a child is brought here to us and no one surfaces after some time, we take them to OSRC ( Ondo state Radio Corporation) for publicity and if no one comes thereafter, we transfer them to government homes with a legal letter.
Madam, as head of the centre, what is your advice to women and the society?
"You see, children are our future. They are what we have. No one knows which of our children will become great in the near future. Therefore we should take care of them properly. They are gifts from God. No woman should say, this not my child therefore, I won't take care the child. No you shouldn't do that. Every child is everybody's business. As for the government, according to a proverb: Kekere ni won ti kpeka Iroko to ba da gba tan. You know, it will begin to collect many things. If we follow our children from the grassroots, we will enjoy them. Lastly, I want to beg the government to assist the centre because the police is trying. In fact, I love all my Cp(s) and D.p.o,
they are really trying in terms of these children. Our IGP, Ibrahim Idris MNI, is wonderful! They are fathers and mothers at hearts! The way they ate assisting us here is beyond my expectations. I still want to urge everyone especially the Ondo state government to assist us with vehicles. I know they are trying. I want them to assist us more just to boost our morales and motivate us more. For instance, there was a case of a child being thrown into the water at Omi ala, before we could get out there, it was too late because we didn't have vehicles of our own. They child had given up. If we have vehicles of our own, if a report comes to us we will move immediately. So I pray the government of Ondo state will help our centre to perform more and do better". She rounded off.
Interview by Anita Aluya and posted by Michael Uchegbu
