FCTA Seals Orphanage Over Alleged Child Trafficking

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has sealed Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home in Kagini, Abuja, following allegations of illegal child trafficking and other violations of child welfare regulations.

The Director of Child Development at the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Idris Attah, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday, explaining that the facility was closed to allow for a comprehensive investigation into its operations.

According to the statement, the orphanage’s proprietress, Grace Ebele Chibuzor, allegedly absconded with an undisclosed number of children to an unknown location without notifying the Child Development Department of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.

“This is to inform residents of the FCT and the general public that Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home, Kagini, Abuja, has been sealed with effect from Monday, January 5, 2026, pending the outcome of investigations into its activities relating to children,” the statement said.

Preliminary findings have reportedly linked the orphanage to a recent case involving four siblings who were allegedly taken from Ado in Nasarawa State and moved to Gwagwalada in the FCT. The children—Joefreey Kasal Asoja (11), David Mtsewe Asoja (7), Joy Elsan Asoja (4), and Joseph Asoja (2)—were reunited with their biological parents on Monday.

Investigators also disclosed an alleged connection between the orphanage and Anderson Archibong, the Executive Secretary of the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria, who is currently on the run.

Authorities suspect that this relationship may have enabled the illegal movement of children from states including Benue and Nasarawa into Abuja for unauthorised fostering and adoption.

Attah urged members of the public with credible information on the whereabouts of the missing children or suspected individuals to report immediately to the nearest security agency.