Ogun Adopts Rescued Nine-year old Boy

Ogun State Government has adopted a nine-year-old minor, Korede Taiwo, who was chained on his neck to a heavy log of wood in a room in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state, for weeks by his father for alleged stealing food.

The boy, who was rescued by the Nigeria Civil Defence Corp and the Nigerian Police, has since been admitted into the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.

Speaking during a visit to the boy at the hospital, the wife of the governor, Olufunso Amosun expressed satisfaction over the health of the child who was recuperating, noting that the state would take up the responsibility of raising and educating the child.

“I am happy to see him active and responding to treatment and with the way things are, he would soon be discharged from the hospital. The state government has taken full responsibility and would ensure his safety and his education,” she said.

Amosun’s wife condemned the maltreatment of the boy by his father and charged parents to take good care of their children by providing for them to avoid a situation that could lead them to stealing and other vices.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, said the state government would give the child the best medical and social support, explaining that the boy would still be at the hospital for another week to enable him recuperate fully. Ipaye said Korede was strong and willing to come out of his health situation.

The hospital’s Head of Department of Paediatric, Morufat Ogundeyi, said he was admitted for child abuse and chronic malnutrition, adding that the boy was being investigated for other infections.

Ogundeyi said Korede needed special care and rehabilitation to help him develop and interact well with other children. She added that the child was mentally alert and explained that given the opportunity, he would do well like any normal child of his age.

The Commissioner for Justice, Olumide Ayeni, said the Amosun administration had zero tolerance for all forms of abuse and would spare no effort to curb them, noting that

Korede’s case was being addressed by the appropriate authorities to bring his abusers to book.