Lagos State government on Wednesday, announced the setting up special team saddled with the duty of raiding on daily basis the nooks and crannies of the state of street beggars, miscreants and street hawkers, saying anyone caught using children to beg risked being jailed for 10 years under the Child’s Right Act.
The State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mr Segun Dawodu, made this known at a press conference, which took place at the Bagauda Kalto Press Centre, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, saying the exercise, which would commence in a few days’ time, would be executed in conjunction with the Nigeria Police.
The commissioner said the action became imperative, as according to him, the affected people constituted considerable nuisance to law-abiding citizens who were entitled to go about their businesses without any fear or hindrance, even as he noted that some of those begging were not looking for alms, but were armed to rob motorists and residents.
Dawodu disclosed that a total of 728 beggars, destitute and hawkers were arrested between January and July 2021, of which adult males were 345; adult females, 241 while children were 142.
