First British Charity Home Foundation Feeds 48 Inmates In Police Custody

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The mood at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department FCIID Annex, Alagbo Street, Ikoyi area of Lagos was recently turned into a festive one of some sort when First British Charity Home Foundation, FBCHF, a Non-Governmental and Non-profitable Organization NGO, visited the Police formation to feed more than 48 suspects in its custody. Even the few Policemen, who were on duty that day were not left out as they too, partook in the goodies. 

The gesture, PM EXPRESS reports is part of the vision of the Foundation to put smile on the faces of the deprived and less privileged in the society.  

The feeding spree, which comprised of exquisitely prepared delicious fried rice and chicken and table water to go with, which lasted for hours witnessed the suspects and the Police alike pouring praises and prayers on the man behind the rare gesture, Mr. Evans Uchendu, for making them have a sense of belonging to the larger society.

It was a scene to behold as the suspects took turns to collect  plates of the meal and table water; feeling like kings and queens once again.

The ceremony did not stop with feeding, the Foundation also gave out blood pressure monitoring machine and pain relief drugs (paracetamol) to the suspects through the Police authority in case any of them falls ill.

Speaking shortly after the ceremony, Founder and CEO of the Foundation, Mr. Evans Uchendu, who betrayed emotions, said he was moved with passion for humanity especially, the less privileged and the deprived in society to set up the Foundation, adding that he is personally financing the project from his lean purse. 

The Abia State-born private detective, who is also the Director General, Third Intelligence Ltd, said that his vision is to provide free food and medical care for suspects in Police custody once in a day nationwide, saying that his close working relationship with the Police has proven that these set of persons need compassion and outreach.

The Police Investigation Officer more often than not cater for the detained suspects from their pockets; questioning what then happened when these IPOs have nothing on them, what then happens to the inmates under their custody. 

According to him,  “The Foundation is not a money spinning foundation; it’s a non- Government and non- profit making organization, NGO. It’s a burning desire in me to see that those less privileged, the have nots especially, those incarcerated are given sense of belonging. Working closely with Police on intelligence gathering, I understand Police predicaments on low funding and how it affects the IPOs, who end up inheriting the feeding of their suspects using their little salary and I also understand the fact that some of the suspects in custody and inmates in Correctional Centres are not criminals but victims of circumstances. So, considering the fact that people are finding it difficult to feed their families these days due to the level of hardship and harsh economic reality in the country, I was wondering what will be the faith of the people incarceration”. 

“What we’re doing is far from showing off; but if we, who are free and relatively blessed can feel the pulse of hardship how much more those without any means of livelihood and the incarcerated.”

Mr. Uchedu added further that “By the grace of God, my vision is aimed at providing free food and possible medical care 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 medicals 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.”