Funke Busari, Lagos
The First British Charity Home Foundation FBCHF, a Non-Governmental and Non-profitable Organization NGO, recently visited the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department FCIID Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi Lagos to put smiles on the faces of detained suspects, 48 of them by feeding them with delicious rice, chicken and chilled table water to wash the meal down.
Even the Policemen on duty were not left out in the celebration as they too took turns in collecting the well prepared rice and water.
Apart from feeding the suspects, the Foundation also donated blood monitoring machine and some cartons of pain relievers (paracetamols) to the suspects through the Police.
The Founder and CEO of the NGO, Mr. Evans Uchendu told our correspondent that the act was part of his vision for detained persons to feel sense of belonging noting that most of them were victims of circumstance.
He also said it is his vision to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society especially, those in the rural villages who have no children to cater to them saying that similar gesture (free
medical checkup) had been done to the elderly in his village in Abia State.
During the feeding at the FCIID Alagbon, the suspects were all full of praises and appreciation for Mr. Uchendu for making them feel a sense of belonging to the larger society. Even the Policemen were not left out in the prayers as they too prayed for the Foundation’s prosperity.
Feeling a sense of fulfillment, Founder and CEO of the Foundation, Mr. Evans Uchendu who could not hide the internal joy pervading his inner self told our correspondent that the reason why he set up the Foundation was because he wants to be reaching out to the poor old persons especially, those who have no children to take of them as well as those in various detention custodies, the Police and the Prisons so that they too can feel that they are members of the society.
He noted that the project is being financed from his personal savings just to fulfil his vision.
Mr. Uchendu, who hails from Abia State and the Director General, Third Intelligence Ltd, told us that his vision is to provide free food and medical for suspects in police custody once in a day across the country because working with the police has shown him that most policemen use their meager salaries to feed suspects under them while being investigated; stressing, “That is why I said to myself that I will make sure that I assist these persons who are also like some of us. My Foundation is not for money making, as you know an NGO is non-profit making. It’s a burning desire in me to see that those less privileged, those who cannot afford three square meal as well as those incarcerated are given sense of belonging. My working experience with police as a
private detective has revealed to me that some of our police IPOs are handicapped in taking care of the suspects under them, sometime they go out of their ways to feed them and buy them drugs when they are not well. Truly, some of these suspects and inmates are not criminals but victims of circumstances if you carefully go into their matter. So I was wondering if we who are out there in the society who are free to do and engage in legitimate businesses to feed our families are not finding it easy, what happens to those who cannot move as well as those elderly in the villages.”
Mr. Uchedu further said that “By the grace of God, my vision is aimed at providing free food and possible medical to people in police custody at least once a day nationwide starting from Lagos State, provide free medical and social welfare to the aged in rural areas where life is very difficult especially, to those that does not have children to take care of them. I also hope to have a retirement home soon. I believe that showing sincere love to people faced with such a challenge will reduce the level of insecurity in the country and changing the negative mindset of the people. What we’re doing here is not the first of its kind, we had done free medical for the aged and less privileged on the 4th and 5th of December 2020 at Amaokwe Achara Uturu Isuikwuato LGA in Abia state; and God willing, we hope to sustain the gesture. And by the grace of God also, we shall be visiting the Lagos State Police Command Ikeja to replicate similar
thing.”
