The owner of the controversial Happy Home Orphanage in Asaba, Delta State, Mr. Christopher Nwoye, has surrendered to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons after weeks of evading arrest.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, in Abuja.
According to Adekoye, Nwoye’s surrender followed several failed attempts by the agency to apprehend him after being declared wanted in September over allegations of child trafficking and illegal adoption.
He said, “Mr. Christopher Nwoye gave himself up today at the NAPTIP headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his lawyer and some women. His presence is critical to the ongoing investigation into the alleged trafficking of children linked to his orphanage.”
Adekoye added that four women from Delta State, who had claimed ownership of some of the children rescued from the orphanage, were also in custody and being interrogated.
The suspect had allegedly sheltered over 70 children, including infants, believed to have been trafficked from Kano, Gombe, and other northern states. During a raid on the facility in June, NAPTIP operatives rescued several children, including 15 newborn babies, eight of whom were traced to families in the North.
Speaking on the development, NAPTIP’s Director-General, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, said the agency’s operation was legitimate and backed by law.
She stated, “It is important to make it clear that our rescue operation at Happy Home Orphanage was not an abduction. NAPTIP does not and will never engage in such an act.
The operation was carried out in line with the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, which empowers the agency to investigate, rescue, and prosecute trafficking-related offences.”
Adamu-Bello further assured that the rescued children were safe and being cared for in protective shelters pending the outcome of investigations.
“The children are currently under our care, receiving the best possible attention. They are not being forced to change their religion or adopt any new faith,” she clarified.
She also confirmed that the women claiming to be the children’s biological mothers were being questioned after initially ignoring the agency’s invitation.
“Those claiming ownership of the rescued children are now cooperating with investigators. DNA tests will be conducted to determine the true parentage before any final decision is made,” she said.
Adamu-Bello reiterated NAPTIP’s neutrality in handling the case and assured that justice would be served in accordance with the law.
“Our duty is to uncover the truth and ensure that every child involved is safe and properly reunited with their rightful families,” she added.
