It is ironic that two officials of the Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sarumi Adeyemi and Orisamehin Florence Bosede, have been charged with conspiracy and theft of a baby. They took advantage of a deranged woman who had just given birth to a baby girl by replacing her child with a challenged baby boy. They allegedly committed the offence on September 14, 2020. The case opens on November 11, 2021.
This ministry is supposed to treat women affairs with a sense of empathy, but in this alarming case the officials displayed a lack of empathy. By their action, which amounted to child stealing, they showed no consideration for the stolen child’s mother. They probably thought she didn’t know her baby’s gender because of her mental health challenge.
But the anguished woman, Deborah Iretioluwa Olorundare, proved them wrong. She was sane enough to know the baby boy wasn’t hers and demanded that her girl-child be produced. It is unclear how those involved got the replacement.
Deborah was said to have given birth to a baby girl in the open. Ondo State government officials who took the baby to a children’s home were said to have arranged for the mother’s treatment at a psychiatric hospital. After her treatment, she asked for her baby and the officials brought a boy.
Her protest prompted some concerned persons to petition the government, alleging the involvement of a child trafficking syndicate. The Department of State Services (DSS) investigated the matter and found out that Deborah indeed gave birth to a girl who had been allegedly adopted by one Mrs Toyin Olabiwonninu who was said to have paid N1 million for the baby. It is unclear if she was aware that the baby was stolen from her mother. She was also said to have travelled out of the country, which complicates the matter.
It is disturbing that government officials were implicated in the deal. Investigators discovered that government officials had asked Deborah and some of her family members to sign documents indicating that they did not want the baby. Also, a ministry official, Rosemary Ali, who was said to have been involved in the adoption process, was reported to have told investigators that she had lied about the baby’s gender in her initial statement because of threats to her life.
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This story reflects abuse of office as the ministry officials used their positions to negotiate a deal with an adopter concerning a child they had stolen and had no right to offer for adoption. It may well have been business as usual for them.
This case raises questions about the role of the concerned ministry. The ministry needs to review its activities and how they are carried out. It also needs to ensure that its workers understand and appreciate the ministry’s responsibilities and act with a sense of responsibility.
It is scandalous that a ministry which is supposed to be involved in social work and social development has workers that are involved in anti-social activities. Stealing a vulnerable child from her vulnerable mother sets a bad example and should not be accommodated by society.
It is reassuring that the officials allegedly involved in the child stealing drama are going to be tried. Their action is condemnable. Their prosecution is expected to shed more light on what happened, how it happened, and the participants. They should be appropriately punished upon conviction for deterrent effect.
Deborah deserves to have her baby; and the baby deserves to have her biological mother. The ministry should make serious efforts to locate the said adopter in order to get the baby back.