The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home in Kagini, Abuja, following allegations of illegal child trafficking and serious child welfare violations.
The Director of Child Development at the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Idris Attah, confirmed the action in an official statement issued on Monday, stating that the facility was shut to allow for a comprehensive investigation into its operations.
According to the statement, the proprietress of the orphanage, Grace Ebele Chibuzor, allegedly absconded with an unspecified number of children to an unknown location without notifying the Child Development Department of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.
“This is to inform FCT residents and the general public that Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home, Kagini, Abuja, has been sealed with effect from Monday, January 5, 2026, pending the outcome of investigations into its activities concerning children,” Attah said.
Preliminary investigations have reportedly linked the orphanage to a recent case involving four siblings who were allegedly taken from Ado in Nasarawa State and moved to Gwagwalada in the FCT. The children — Joefreey Kasal Asoja (11), David Mtsewe Asoja (7), Joy Elsan Asoja (4), and Joseph Asoja (2) — were reunited with their biological parents on Monday.
Further findings also revealed an alleged connection between the orphanage and Anderson Archibong, the Executive Secretary of the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria, who is currently at large. Authorities suspect that this relationship may have enabled the illegal movement of children from states such as Benue and Nasarawa into Abuja for unauthorised fostering and adoption.
Attah urged members of the public with credible information on the whereabouts of the missing children or suspects to report immediately to the nearest security agency, as investigations continue.
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