…Says Tenderlife ED Not Child Trafficker
The Association for Orphans and Vulnerable Children NGOs In Nigeria (AONN) and other civil society organizations in Rivers State have berated the state police command over the arrest, detention and hasty media trial of Mrs. Chinelo Odiakosa, Executive Director of Tenderlife Rescue Initiative, her staff and five expectant girls on the allegation of alleged child trafficking and operating a baby factory.
AONN said it became worried that the police became so unprofessional that it descended very low into tarnishing the image and good works of Tenderlife Rescue Initiative without any form of proper investigation to ascertain if the allegations were true.
The Association said the action by the police thus portrays an attempt by the force to redeem the already battered image of its Eagle Crack Squad that which is already receiving condemnation over the arrest and torture of the ‘Ikokwu 5’ that led to the death of Chima Okwunado in questionable circumstances.
AONN in a letter signed by its State Coordinator, Amaechi Elechi, Secretary, Dr. Benard Moses and ex-officio, Mr. John Omo’tong also said apart from being a member of the Association,Tenderlife Rescue Initiative is legally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission CAC/IT/No 113298 and have recommendation to carry on its activities from the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation which is also playing a supervisory role to the organization.
The association called on the Ministry to rise to the occasion and redeem the image of Tenderlife Rescue Initiative and get Mrs. Chinelo Odiakosa and her staff from the unlawful detention by the police.
Representative of parents of the children sheltered by Tenderlife Rescue Initiative, Oluchi Akumuzie and Blessing Udoh told our reporter that they never sold their children to Tenderlife Rescue Initiative, but got knowledge of the place after attempts to abort their unwanted pregnancies failed.
