Lagos Evicts 260 Beggars In 100 Days

Lagos state is known to hoard beggars from all over Nigeria as it is believed the state controls the nation’s wealth. Most of the beggars come from the northern part of the country where wealth is scare. The state government has now intensified its anti-begging operations, leading to the eviction of 260 beggars from the streets in the last 100 days.

Beggars

According to Vanguard, the information was published by the commissioner for information and strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, at the 2,800 days celebration of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration held in Agidingbi, Ikeja.
In 2013 the state faced fierce public outrage over the alleged forced expulsion of some Igbo natives from its territory.


Last year the government rescued 2, 217 beggars from the state’s streets, and it returned 458 vagrants to their relatives who were residents in other states of the federation.
Vanguard reports that the rescue operation was carried out through the office of the special adviser to the governor on youth and social development. Most of the affected people were sent to rehabilitation centres.

The document said the office evacuated 260 beggars from the streets during the 100 days under review.

It added that 22 destitutes rescued earlier from the streets were currently undergoing training at a rehabilitation centre in Majidun, Ikorodu, while five children rescued from the streets have been sent to schools after completing their rehabilitation.

After treatment, the government offered shelter to six students who were victims of sexual abuse, as those who abused them undergo prosecution.

The former special adviser to the governor on youth and social development, Dr Enitan Badru, earlier disclosed that the rescue of beggars from the streets of Lagos is “a continuous exercise.”

It will be recalled that late last year, Lagos State deported 70 northerners who were found publicly begging; an act which has been banned in the state.