Oyo State Government on Friday said it has evacuated no fewer than thirty-two beggars in Ibadan the state capital.
DAILY POST gathered that the evacuation exercise was carried out around Dugbe market and Mokola under bridge in Ibadan, Thursday afternoon.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, who spoke through the Director, Child Welfare, Mr Sunday Kolajo said six underage children, five adult men, five adult women, ten male children as well as five female children amongst whom were two on wheelchairs.
She said that the evacuation was part of the state government’s effort at ridding the State of destitute and providing succor to children used for street begging.
“We have evacuated 32 destitute individuals from two popular locations in Ibadan, Dugbe and Mokola Roundabout. They have been taken to a special home where they will be rehabilitated for a change on their social status.
“The children among them that were used by their parents as beggars will receive free education after their rehabilitation and medical care, they are Nigerians, they deserve to be given a better life like others.”
She said the State government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion has zero tolerance for children roaming the street instead of going to schools.
She added that this brought about the need for the enforcement exercise in the second half of the year to take destitute individuals, especially children beggars off the street.
Sanni explained further that the Ministry, after getting their profiles, would hand them over to the Matan Arewa for onward repatriation and rehabilitation with their families.
