Alleged abuse claims spur reactions at Jos orphanage

…Benefactors withdraw support, demand probe

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

JOS — Renewed allegations concerning the welfare of children at an orphanage on Rukuba Road, Jos North, Plateau State, have prompted strong reactions, including the withdrawal of support by two major benefactors who are now calling for a formal investigation into the facility’s operations.

Speaking with journalists in Jos, Chukwuemeka Okeke, Group Legal Officer of Stanel Group, said the decision by Stanel Group and the Stanley Uzochukwu Foundation followed recent reports that raised concerns about conditions at the home.

Okeke noted that the organisations’ Chief Executive Officer and Foundation Patron, Stanley Uzochukwu, authorised the withdrawal after reviewing information made available in recent days.

He explained that their initial involvement with the facility had been humanitarian in nature, motivated by conditions observed during an earlier visit that indicated the children required additional support.

The intervention carried out on July 31, 2025, included feeding support, educational assistance, building renovations, and the installation of ICT and security equipment.

Okeke emphasised that neither Stanel Group nor the Foundation has ever had ownership or managerial control over the orphanage, describing claims to the contrary as inaccurate. He added that all assistance has now been suspended “with immediate effect.”

Community members who spoke anonymously said the facility had attracted concerns in the past, with recurring reports prompting calls for stronger oversight.

Following the latest developments, Stanel Group and the Foundation have written to relevant authorities — including the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, and the Chairperson of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission — requesting an independent assessment to clarify the situation at the home.

According to Okeke, the organisations’ primary concern is the safety and well-being of the children, noting that child welfare should be upheld “without compromise.”

Efforts to contact representatives of the orphanage were unsuccessful, as calls to a known official were not answered.

Child-rights advocates say the situation highlights broader systemic challenges. Sandra Chikan, Vice President (Northern Region) of the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASAHON), said Plateau State continues to record cases of parental neglect, trafficking, domestic violence and other factors that place minors at risk.

Chikan explained that while orphanages are meant to offer temporary care under government regulation, some homes struggle to meet required standards due to limited resources. She said ASAHON’s Plateau Chapter had previously suspended two homes — including one currently receiving public attention — on the basis of reported concerns.

She pointed to inadequate funding and staffing as recurring issues and encouraged increased governmental support, tighter monitoring, and effective implementation of the Plateau State Alternative Care Guidelines, which promote fostering and kinship care to reduce overcrowding.

Chikan urged communities to promptly report any concerns about child welfare to ASAHON, the Child Protection Network, the Ministry of Women Affairs or law-enforcement agencies, stressing that child protection is a shared responsibility and a measure of societal values.

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