The Abia State House of Assembly has been urged to regulate orphanage homes in the state to combat rising cases of child abduction, trafficking, and exploitation. The call came from Isienyi Boniface, the legislator representing Ikwuano constituency, during a plenary session where he presented a motion addressing concerns about the operations of orphanage homes.

Boniface highlighted that while orphanage homes are intended to provide care and shelter for vulnerable children who are abandoned or whose families cannot support them, some facilities in Abia State are allegedly involved in child trafficking, abduction, exploitation, and emotional or psychological abuse. He attributed these issues to inadequate regulation, which has allowed “baby factories” to operate under the guise of legitimate orphanages.

The lawmaker pointed out that some orphanage homes fail to conduct background checks on staff or volunteers, exposing children to individuals of questionable character. To address this, Boniface urged the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs to implement stringent licensing requirements for organizations seeking to operate orphanage homes, ensuring they are not used for illicit activities.

He further proposed that comprehensive regulation would enable the ministry to maintain accurate data on children and their adoptive parents, ensuring the safety of vulnerable children and enabling authorities to track their whereabouts when necessary.

Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, commended Boniface for the motion and expressed support for its recommendations, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable children in the state.

The motion underscores growing concerns about the welfare of children in orphanage homes and signals a push for stronger oversight to prevent exploitation and abuse in Abia State.