A report by a signatory who visited the CRARN Center

A visit to Child’s Right And Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) Facility, Ikot Afaha-Idung Ukpa, Eket.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

This forum has never witnessed a single episode that stirred so many responses, so much anger, sadness, sympathy and calls for some heads to roll in its history until last month. Picking through stacks of emails for the last three weeks or so it does appear the discussion has subsided with time. The issue that caused so much emotion in so many parts of the world since shown on London Channel 4 TV titled, YouTube, Facebook, BBC, etc., “Saving Africa’s Children” has not gone away and will not go away until the problems are nipped in the bud. That will take hard work. Last week I decided to check out things for myself during a brief stopover in Akwa Ibom.

I begin by stating how particularly pleased I was to see the work done by Samuel Itauma in the lives of these children at his institution. I am thankful to Paul Umo Udo, a board member at CRARN, not only because he spent the day with me but also for his generosity to CRARN. Equally, I am pleased with the many actions already taken by the state chief executive Gov. Godswill Akpabio. I must add that so much remains undone to alleviate the immediate and long-term needs facing these children; I strongly believe I can count on a good listener to do more. Finally, I use this opportunity to thank this forum and all others for contributing to the discussion, the leadership of Akwa Ibom Association, IPC and IbibioNation for their various financial contributions so far to the cause of these children.

The survival of children at CRARN facility in Eket is tied to their complete welfare: counseling, health, accommodation, feeding, education, extra-curricular activities and more. With the right environment they can still grow to actualize their inherited potentials. For that to happen we must first address their physiological/ biological needs, followed by security needs, then needs for love, affection, belonging and self-esteem. If these needs are frustrated, we will leave them to continue to feel helpless, worthless, inferior and weak. In the event these needs are satisfied and followed by their need for self-actualization, they will grow up to become what they were born to be in the first place. That should be our long-term goal.

Most people I spoke with in Akwa Ibom vis-à-vis Nigeria during the trip were not caught in the web of the graphic images seen in many places around the world for obvious reasons therefore may not really get a good grasp of the plight of these children. According to Sam Itauma, Gary Foxcroft was in Nigeria as at the day I visited; he and Foxcroft planned to show the documentary in Lagos and Abuja to raise further awareness and create traction back home. It may interest you to know, the video clips we saw just last month were taped in part February, the last part was taped and completed in April this year. Al Jazeera News network from the Middle-east is said to have visited the institution a short time ago but as a result of contractual obligation with Dispatches that expired recently, the network could not obtain any information or video when it visited the center in Eket.

It may also be useful to know that Sunday Ulup-Aya is not a first time offender as far as the issue that got him arrested again is concerned. I gathered that the former IG, Mr. Etim Inyang ordered his arrest or caused his arrest to be made some time in the past, he was remanded in jail for about three years and later released. According to the source, it is highly unlikely the confessed killing of 110 people was recent. The source informed me it is possible he used his past activity in effort to promote and boost his business practice in the video. Before he showed his face for the ‘consultation’ and video taping he is in trouble for, he demanded for a consultation fee of N30,000 but it was not clear what he settled for. Now in police custody he claims he killed no children but the witch in them. I do not want to get further into the circumstances surrounding him being 'caught on tape’ as police investigation continues.

At CRARN I was showed a recent front-page newspaper report of child-trafficking involving an estimated 150 kids said to be carted away from Oron area by an Abia State NGO named Abandoned Children Ministry headed by Rev. Dr. (Mrs.) Joy Igwueze on the guise of delivering the children from witchcraft. Twice arrested, released and yet to face justice, the leader of “Peace-Sisters” denied any wrong doing. It is not clear whether she checked the children out of the state line with any state authority in her questionable conduct. I obtained further information from another NGO who also confirmed Rev. Igwueze “was accused of trafficking this children for rituals and was intercepted by the police, but was later released on the parents’ intervention that they willingly gave these children…” Further, that on December 2, 2008 Rev. Igwueze “visited” AKS Ministry of Women Affairs as “part of the monitoring process by government” to “ascertain their health status and why they were taken to Abia in the first instance. It is part of the child rights implementation process of the state government” the NGO official added. The children in her custody, it was stated, were “currently being trained on basic literacy and vocational skills. The Ministry of Women Affairs is planning to visit Abia centre to ascertain its suitability for their rehabilitation,” the statement continued. The recovered children from Mrs. Igwueze-led "Peace-sisters" range from less than three to seven years old. The youngest was recovered recently with rashes over her hands and legs; those recovered earlier appeared well healed and assimilated. I am flanked with them in attached picture titled “peace sisters returnees.”

Samuel Itauma believes in the state authority and is not bothered whether or not the state absorbs the kids into any of its centers. He is much concerned about the welfare of the children wherever they are kept. He prefers whatever is done to be in the best interest of the children. To remain where they are means stability, continuity and freedom to play and farm outside and cook what they want to eat. In the end, he contemplates a possibility they may be “caged” in a government controlled center. I asked him of the N10 million donated to the center by the state government to find I was mistaken. The said amount, he said, was not only for CRARN rather for an estimated 12 children centers in the state.

We discussed the issue of going after parents who abandon their kids. I gave an example where many newly born babies used to be dumped anywhere to die in the US to illustrate what may happen if the government goes after parents who abandon their children. Since the government stopped going after the mothers and no questions asked when babies are dropped off safely at fire stations, hospitals, etc., many children have been saved. We may never hear or know any more what happens to children once alleged, there is a possibility the parents may summarily kill and dispose of them to avoid detection and getting in trouble. In this case parents should be permitted or encouraged to drop off their children with no questions asked to save lives. I believe Sam was convinced, however it was not immediately known how he was going to handle it.

Among the stories you did not see on the video clips is that of Daniel whose uncle, upon experiencing leg pain and swelling gave the boy a bike-ride of his life. Daniel was tossed from a bridge into a fast running stream to die. The drowning boy now six was not to catch a straw but a real tree that had fallen across the stream if he were to survive the stream’s current. He caught and held unto a branch of the fallen tree. When one broke he held unto another and finally climbed atop the trunk and found his way out. No one heard his screams in the noisy evening until it echoed in the quiet of the dawn to those who cared. He was rescued and taken to CRARN center.

When Jerry was first discovered, he hardly was breathing. When the person who first saw him returned, he had disappeared into the bushes fearing he may be killed when he recovered consciousness. He spent the first three days recovering in the home of a member of the CRARN Board of Directors. His dark complexion has nearly buried his many facial scars that I hardly linked him to his picture in a pamphlet.

The center has a classroom block of three or four classes and administrative office. The boys’ dormitory is right next to the classroom block and the girls’ dormitory and kitchen is a half block away across from the Itauma’s residence. The kids have a pineapple, pumpkin and waterleaf farm. A newly constructed building on the center is paid for by donations from the staff of Bristol Helicopters matched by their employer. For a population of 162 kids when I arrived, increased to 167 at time of departure, both the classrooms and dormitories are congested. In a 9x9 room girls’ dormitory, I noticed five bunk-beds in each room and four girls on a bunk-bed. The dormitories are in need of 40 more bunk-beds according to Sam. The rooms have no ceilings to prevent heat and no window screens to protect from mosquito. Most of the mattresses are not in useful condition and the beds have no pillows not to talk of cases. There is no formal dining hall and chapel. Many of the children are receiving emails from well wishers around the world, they want free access to their emails. The center needs a computer lab, kitchen utensils, plates, toys, with three hospital emergencies a week it needs a van, reading and writing materials, first aid medicines, school desks and chairs, etc.

In conclusion folks, I have woken you up and ‘bombarded’ you once again with problems facing these children at CRARN: it is just that we cannot escape from knowing about their misery, suffering, challenges and possible wasted human potential if we as a people look the other way and not help. Most of us felt powerless in light of this grim reality when the news first broke. Fortunately, charity offers us a way to respond and it has to begin at home. “Giving is not about a calculation of what you are buying, it is about participating in a fight” to prepare these children for the future. “It is about you as much as it is about the effect of your gift.” Please donate your tax-deductible contribution to CRARN through Akwa Ibom Association or IPC by year’s end for 2008 tax-year write-off ( US only). Thank you in anticipation of your generous donation.

"Bishop" Ulup Uya Speaks out (YouTube Video)

Happy Holidays!

Eno Adams

Back to Top