The Anambra State Government has clampdown on syndicates using children as beggars in Awka, the State Capital and environs.
According to reports, the raid was carried out Tuesday night, by operatives of the Awka Capital Development Authority. Following the raid at the Aroma Junction in Awka and environs, no fewer than 16 child beggars, including adults were arrested, the report said.
This was contained in a statement by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Ossy Onuko. He said the operation was planned in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs as a way to take children off the streets.
The operation, which caused panic in the area, saw some of the street kids fleeing at sighting the enforcement team. However, some resisted arrest, but were overpowered and bundled into waiting vehicles and taken away by the team.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Akwa, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, informed of the need to get the kids off the street. She, therefore, stated that the operation would continue in all parts of Awka. This is to ensure that the town was rid of children being used by syndicates to beg for alms.
Obinabo also expressed deep concern that school-age children were being denied their right to education. And are being exploited as beggars and petty thieves by unscrupulous individuals.
The Commissioner said the 16 children picked up during the raid had been handed over to the state’s Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade. They would be handed over to their parents and guardians after they had been traced.
She said, “This is happening despite Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s provision of free basic education in the State.
“This development has become worrisome for us as a government. It is also of great concern to us that most of these children are not from Anambra State.
“We have, therefore, decided that this will no longer continue. For these children we picked up, we are going to trace their parents. And find out why they are being used for begging.
“It is also a warning to parents to endeavour to give birth to only the number of children they can take care of. This is to avoid deploying them for these nefarious activities.”
On his part, the MD ACTDA explained that the street beggars and other miscreants had repeatedly been warned. They had been warned both through conventional and social media channels, to vacate the city, but they failed to comply.
“The Anambra State Government is determined to identify and prosecute the parents, guardians, and syndicates behind the exploitation of these children.
“The raid is part of an ongoing effort to rid the area, which is a key governmental zone. As well as other parts of the Awka Capital Territory, of beggars and other miscreants.
“We cannot be talking of creating a liveable and prosperous homeland when we have all these people littering the place.
“If we fail to catch these children now, they may grow up to become a menace to their parents and society at large. That is why we are acting fast,” Onuko said.
source: Punch
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