Anayo Okolie
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has promised to assist in rehabilitating the Enugu-born 14 year-old SS-2 student of Government Secondary School, Apo Resettlement, Abuja, Miss Ifesinachi Ani, who was abducted about six months ago and converted to Islam.
Ifesinachi, the daughter of one Mr. Sunday Ani from Ani-Chime family, Umunachi Ngene, Amaechi Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area, Enugu State, was reported to have been taken to the Central Police Station, Uwani, Enugu by the abductors, after alarm was raised in the media over the abduction.
The development prompted Governor Ugwuanyi, to dispatch a delegation of top government functionaries, led by the state commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Princess Peace Nnaji; her counterpart in the ministry of Health, Dr. Sam Ngwu; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Mrs. Felicia Ikpeama, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Louis Amoke, to pay a solidarity visit to the family on the reported abduction of their daughter, Ifesinachi.
Addressing members of the family, Ugwanyi, who spoke through Princess Nnaji, said his administration was touched by the news of the unfortunate incident of the abduction of Ifesinachi, adding that he would do everything possible to ensure that the girl was fully rehabilitated and taken adequate care of in line with the government policy on Child Right Act.
She said the governor as a man of kindness, cares and has the interest of every citizen of the state at heart, no matter where the person resides, adding that the visit was also to rejoice with the family and thank God for the efforts made so far to release the girl from the hands of the abductors.
Princess Nnaji also noted that Ugwuanyi was interested in taking care of children of the state, adding that it was as a result of this that he supported the passage of the Child Right bill into law which protects the rights of every child within the age of 01 to 17.
She argued that the abducted 14-year-old Ifesinachi is a child going by the said Act, stressing that it is the responsibility of the state government through the Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development to protect and rehabilitate the abducted girl.
Also speaking, the commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngwu told the family of Ifesinachi that Gov. Ugwuanyi as a compassionate man cares about the well-being of Enugu people wherever they are.
Ngwu who expressed regret that the girl had been taken to Abuja when the delegation arrived, assured the family that he would be back when she returns from Abuja, to ensure that she is medically and psychologically fit, and rehabilitated to a full functional and productive Enugu State indigene, as directed by the governor.
Responding, Mr. John Ani, a brother to Ifesinachi’s father, who spoke on behalf of the family, thanked the governor for the surprise visit, and expressed joy that their daughter who was lost has been found.
