NSCDC Seals Off Osogbo Disabled Children’s Home Over Poor Conditions, Lack of Registration

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun State has taken decisive action against an unregistered home for children with disabilities in Ota Efun, Osogbo, sealing the facility over poor conditions and the suspected abandonment of vulnerable children. The operation, led by the Osun State Command of the NSCDC, follows a public tip-off regarding the welfare of the children residing at the center.

Speaking at the site of the intervention, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Commandant Igbalawole Sotiyo, disclosed that the action was necessary to protect the rights and lives of the children. He stated that operatives of the Corps found the children in a deplorable condition, citing signs of severe malnourishment and overall neglect. Commandant Sotiyo, represented by the Deputy Commandant of Corps, Abeere Oluwafemi, emphasized that the home was operating illegally and without registration from relevant government bodies.

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NSCDC Decries Lack of Oversight and Parental Abandonment

“From what we found on ground, the home had no operational license or documentation from the Osun State government. Worse still, the children kept in the facility appeared malnourished, and the hygiene conditions were unacceptable,” Deputy Commandant Oluwafemi told journalists.

The NSCDC revealed that preliminary investigations indicated that many of the children had been left in the care of the unlicensed facility by parents who had since abandoned them. The Corps noted that this trend of neglect highlights a growing crisis in child welfare management, particularly among vulnerable groups like children with disabilities.

Commandant Sotiyo noted that the situation posed both health and human rights risks to the children. “Such negligence cannot be tolerated, especially when the lives of minors are at stake. It is imperative that institutions catering to special-needs individuals meet the highest standards of care and operate under close government supervision,” he added.

Osun Bureau for Persons With Disabilities Notified

Following the discovery, the Osun State NSCDC has formally notified the Osun State Bureau for Persons With Disabilities to intervene and take the necessary steps in rehabilitating the affected children. The Bureau is expected to evaluate the children’s health and psychological condition and ensure they are transferred to properly managed care homes under state supervision.

The NSCDC’s swift intervention has been met with both commendation and concern, as it shines a spotlight on the unchecked proliferation of unauthorized care homes across Nigeria. These centers, often operating without monitoring or regulation, expose vulnerable populations—including children, the elderly, and the disabled—to grave dangers.

Warning to Parents and Guardians

In a stern message to the public, Commandant Sotiyo urged parents and guardians to properly investigate and verify the legitimacy of institutions before entrusting their children to them. “We understand that some families are under economic strain, but that does not justify placing children in unsafe or unregulated environments,” he said.

He added that parents must be held accountable for willful neglect, warning that legal action may be taken against those found to have abandoned their children in such conditions.

A Broader Call for Reform and Oversight

The case has renewed calls from child welfare advocates for the Nigerian government to implement more robust policies around the operation of orphanages, rehabilitation homes, and special needs institutions. Experts warn that a failure to act could result in more children being exploited or harmed under the guise of care.

The Osun NSCDC has vowed to intensify surveillance and investigation into care centers across the state, promising to clamp down on any facility that falls short of regulatory requirements or abuses the rights of those in their custody.

Meanwhile, local residents in Ota Efun expressed shock at the revelations. A community member, who preferred to remain anonymous, said they had always suspected the home was operating in secrecy but had no idea of the extent of the children’s suffering. “We just thought it was one of those private care homes. We never knew the children were not being properly fed or cared for,” she said.

The NSCDC has assured the public that the case will be thoroughly investigated and that those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.