The Rescue Team of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has rescued and rehabilitated a female American citizen found wandering in Ijegun area of the state.
The Lagos team rescued the woman recently while responding to a distress call to the emergency toll-free line of the state government by a mandated reporter who found the American in Ijegun area of Lagos.
Speaking on the incident, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, said when the woman was found by the Rescue Team, it was discovered that she was in a depressed state of mind and incoherent as a result of which she was immediately transferred to the Lagos State Rehabilitation Home, Majidun for necessary treatment and rehabilitation.
Ogunlende said, “The Ministry would always ensure that no resident in Lagos State irrespective of his or her place of origin or nationality is neglected. This is a part of the mandate of our Ministry captured in the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda which has Social Inclusion as one of the pillars. It is simply to give all and sundry a sense of belonging.”
In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said, “We were deeply touched by the plight of the woman and as the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of giving support to the vulnerable and needy, we wasted no time in rising to the occasion. For us, every life is very important because social welfare is at the heart of our statutory responsibilities”.
Meanwhile, John Simmon and Charles Adeyemi of the Supervisory Consular Services, United States Embassy in Lagos visited the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs) Oke-Osanyintolu at Alausa on Monday to formally request for the release of the woman who would be repatriated to America for reconciliation with her family.
Commenting on the development, Simmon commended the Lagos State Government for being proactive, which led to the rescue of their citizen, and promised that the embassy would give the woman every necessary assistance to ensure her safe return to America.
Simmon said, “For this noble act by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development that has saved a life, we are most grateful to the state government. Who knows what would have become of her if the ministry had not swung into action on receiving the information? Once again, all the efforts put into this rescue mission must be commended. It shows you value every life in the State regardless of the nationality.”
