The Ebonyi State Government has rescued five homeless male children who were seen roaming in various parts of the state.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Felicia Nwamkpuma, disclosed this during a briefing in Abakaliki on Saturday.

Mrs Nwamkpuma said the children are currently under the care of the state government, while efforts are ongoing to trace their parents and reunite them with their families. She explained that the boys were picked up at different locations by police operatives and subsequently handed over to the ministry for further investigation.

The commissioner, who was represented at the briefing by the Head of the Child Development Department, Emmanuel Nkwuda, spoke at the Ebonyi State Juvenile Remand Home.

She revealed that the five boys, aged between three and 14 years, had been wandering aimlessly before their rescue. According to her, some of the children have remained at the remand home for as long as four years, while others have spent between two months and one year at the facility.

Mrs Nwamkpuma called on parents and guardians searching for missing children to visit the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development with relevant proof to enable proper identification and possible reunification.

She clarified that the remand home is not intended to serve as a long-term shelter for children who are not crime suspects.

“Ordinarily, they are not expected to remain here beyond one or two months. Prolonged stay could pose security concerns, especially as the facility also houses underage suspects,” she said.

The commissioner warned that if no parents or relatives come forward within a reasonable time, the ministry may initiate adoption or fostering processes in line with Section 4 of the Ebonyi State Child Rights Law, which prioritises the best interest of the child.

“Their best interest at this stage of life is to grow up in a proper home where they can enjoy parental care, education, dignity, and a sense of identity. Every child has a right to a name and protection. We cannot allow them to grow up without meaningful engagement,” she stated.

Mrs Nwamkpuma also advised parents to have only the number of children they can adequately cater for, taking into account their financial capacity and availability.

She urged heightened vigilance amid rising cases of child abduction, citing a recent incident in the Nkwagu axis of the state where unidentified women allegedly deceived mothers and abducted three children.

Reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to the welfare and protection of children, she appealed to members of the public to assist in reconnecting the rescued boys with their families.

This is not the first such rescue in the state. In February 2024, a 13-year-old boy, Goodluck Onwe, was rescued after being found wandering the streets of Abakaliki.