The Akwa Ibom State Government has launched a statewide operation to evacuate children roaming the streets of Uyo and place them in government care ahead of the resumption of schools later this month.

The exercise was flagged off on Tuesday at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat Roundabout by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Inibehe Etukudo. She said the intervention is aimed at protecting vulnerable children, curbing street begging and other social vices, and boosting enrolment in basic schools across the state.

Etukudo said 10 children below the age of 18 have so far been rescued and moved to a government-managed care home where they will receive food, medical attention, protection and other support services. She stressed that the children were not being punished for their circumstances.

According to the Commissioner, the rescue followed earlier engagements with the children, during which they expressed willingness to be taken into government care. She added that the ministry will now work to trace their families and understand why they were on the streets.

“We plan to reintegrate them into their families; we will go with them to their individual families and find out from their parents why they threw these children out,” Etukudo said. “We will not stop at removing them from the streets. We must investigate the root causes and address them before reunification.”

Findings by the ministry revealed that some of the children were allegedly abandoned by parents after accusations of witchcraft, while others were forced out due to maltreatment by stepmothers, caregivers, hunger and malnutrition. On the streets, officials said children as young as 10 were at risk of being lured into cult groups, drug use and other illicit activities.

Some of the rescued children told government officials they were driven out by stepmothers or had been rejected by their fathers. Others said difficult circumstances with grandmothers left them with no option but to fend for themselves.

Etukudo appealed to parents and guardians not to abandon children or allow them to roam the streets. She urged those unable to cater for their children to approach the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare for support instead.

“My advice to parents is, please don’t allow your child to roam the streets. The government has done enough. We have enough food in Akwa Ibom and the price of food has come down,” she said. “If you cannot cater for your children, come to the Ministry and officially hand over the child to us. We have done that several times.”

The Commissioner thanked members of the public and stakeholders for supporting the ministry’s child protection efforts. She reaffirmed Governor Umo Eno’s administration’s commitment to the welfare and empowerment of vulnerable persons. Governor Eno is kin in making life beautiful for the children and insure that the state is child friendly.