PCC Rescues 20-yr-old Mother, 3 Kids From Dilapidated Building In Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Office of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), on Tuesday, rescued a 20-year-old mother and her three little children from an abandoned and structurally unsafe building in Pigba Kassa Village, Wumba Community, Apo District, Abuja.

The children, aged seven, three, and 18 months, were reportedly living in a dilapidated, uncompleted structure that exposed them to serious health and safety risks.

According to reports, the minors were frequently left unattended to, especially at night, by their mother, a Tiv woman from Benue State identified as Miss Joy, popularly known in the community as ‘Mummy 3’.

A discreet investigation by the Commission indicated that the children were living in highly vulnerable conditions amid alleged neglect and the mother’s destitution, exposing them to risks including physical harm, criminal attacks, environmental hazards, malnutrition, infections, emotional trauma, and possible exploitation.

The situation prompted immediate intervention by the Commission.

Acting on the directive of the Honourable Commissioner of the PCC representing FCT, Hon. Musa Dikko, a rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The PCC team included Assistant Chief Information Officer, Miss Ijeoma Izenite Okonronwo, alongside investigation officers of the Commission, while the NSCDC team was led by Deputy Commandant and Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Mrs Mary Jegbefume.

During the operation, a PCC correspondent attached to the Commission, Favour Chinwendu Obiorah, interviewed residents of the area, including Mrs Gloria Emeka and Mr Evans, who confirmed the children’s living conditions.

The residents said the children were often left in the care of the eldest child, aged seven, while their mother went out at night.

They further stated that the minors frequently spent nights alone crying inside the unsafe building without proper supervision, describing the situation as disturbing and dangerous to their wellbeing.

Following a joint on-the-spot assessment, officials of the PCC and NSCDC took custody of the children and their mother and handed them over to the Social Welfare Department of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Area 10, for further evaluation and intervention.

The Deputy Director of Social Welfare, AMAC, in Area 10 Office, Hajiya Aisha Z. Yusuf, received the family and took over the case for welfare assessment and necessary action.

The Commissioner of the PCC representing FCT, Musa Dikko, assured that the Commission would continue to monitor the matter in collaboration with social welfare authorities to ensure the safety and protection of the children.

The PCC said the intervention underscored its commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and addressing cases of social and administrative neglect within the Federal Capital Territory.