The Kwara Police Command on Tuesday donated food items worth thousands of Naira and N50, 000 cash to an orphanage home: Kwara Children Reception Centre, Ilorin.

The State's Commissioner of Police, Mr Esosa Amadasun, handed over the items to the officer in charge of the centre, Mr Taiye Kupolati in Ilorin. The police boss said the gesture was to demonstrate that Police also have considerable measure of human face.

He said the food items, which included rice, noodles, vegetable oil, soft drinks, milk and cartons of bottled water were sourced from officers and men's salaries of the Command.

The CP added that the occasion was taking place in all the 36 State Commands and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as directed by the Inspector General of police (I-G), Mr Solomon Arase.

Amadasun explained that the gesture was part of the police reformation agenda of the I-G to demonstrate that the Force was truly a friend of the public. "In the last conference we had with the I-G, he asked us to add this as part of our itinerary/routine duty to show that we (Police) have a human face.

"I am not the only one doing it now; other Commands are also doing same. "Though it is a directive, but it is a contribution that comes from the bottom of our hearts'

"I am deeply touched with what I have seen today and this will not be my last visit. I will from time to time visit the Centre as God provides," he said. Amadasun advised women to stop abandoning their children in the gutter or refuse dump and should instead app

He said such women should utilise care giving centres and emulate relatives of a twin, who dropped the children at the Reception Centre for proper care, after they lost their mother at birth.

"bandoning babies in the gutter, in the refuse bins or in the bush is a sin against God and mankind, it should never be done.

"When Government has provided a place like this, they should utilise it and give reasons why they don't want to keep the baby; which is lawful," the CP advised.

In his response, Mr Kupolati, expressed gratitude to the Police for the donation and providing solution to some of the critical challenges confronting the Centre.

He said the Centre is facing acute transportation problem to take the children to the hospital as well as finance for other logistics.

According to him, the centre established in 1992 has 23 children and babies under its care, adding that the oldest was an 18 years old girl while the youngest was barely three weeks.

Kupolati said the centre has five categories of children which include the abandoned, motherless and disputed, children of lunatics and lost and found ones.

Hajiya Iyabo Mayaki, Director Social Welfare, Kwara Ministry of Social Welfare, Culture and Tourism presented letter of appreciation to the CP on behalf of the Commissioner, Mrs Iyabo Adewuyi. (NAN)