The Governing Board of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) Orphanage in Jalingo, Taraba state has debunked a press release made by some group of persons from Banbuka Community accusing Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna and the late Mr. Simon Benjamin, coordinator of the orphanage of child trafficking as untrue and misleading information.
Mrs. Mary Tijos, the Board Chairperson of the Orphanage described the report as misleading, aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the organization and its programs.
“This group of persons who claimed to be the parents and guardians of some orphans have accused the Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria Rev. Johnwesley Yohanna and their late brother Mr. Simon Benjamin Bankuka who was the coordinator of the UMCN Orphanage before his demise on 5th November 2022, of using the orphanage for child trafficking and the Bishop as the principal signatory of the orphanage.
“The Board wishes to unequivocally inform the relevant agencies and the general public that the claims are totally false, unfounded, misleading and unfortunate aimed only to tarnish the image of the organization and its Programmes”, She said.
Mrs. Tijos noted that the UMCN Orphanage is an initiative Programme of the Council of Bishop’s which was established in 2005 to recruit orphans, vulnerable and abandoned children with the sole aim of given them hope, which the Organization has achieved over the years without any case of child trafficking.
“The achievements recorded by the management of the orphanage are very glaring, for instance, the Educational drive for these orphans is on the right track, just recently four orphans graduated from the University. This orphans studied far away from their relations and there has never been any form of child trafficking on them”, she stressed.
She said an allegation of painting the Bishop as the principal signatory to their alleged Child Trafficking is a serious and weighty allegation that cannot be swept under carpet.
“We have always provided monthly reports and update of the statistics of the orphans and all the programs of the UMCN Orphanage are always sent to the relevant authorities that gave permission for the operation of the UMCN Orphanage, if there were any irregularities against the aims and objectives of establishing the orphanage, the government agencies would have indicted the orphanage long time ago, however we call on the relevant agencies to swing into action and investigate this allegations and should endeavor to make their findings Public for the interest of the organization and the general publics”.
Mrs Tijos added that the orphanage is governed by highly respected individuals in the society whose integrity will never allow Child Trafficking in the orphanage.
Meanwhile, it was also gathered that the Banbuka Community Association have also debunked and disassociate itself from the claims of the said persons from their Community.
