Abia Evacuates Beggars From Aba Roads/Streets

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

As part of its efforts to restore sanity to Aba, its Commercial hub, the Abia State  Government has evacuated the  street beggars occupying the Bata Junction along Aba- Owerri.

The Source reports that in recent times, some  major roads and streets in the commercial nerve centre of the State had been taken over by street beggars, most of whom are strongly believed to be aliens from neighboring countries.

Their  activities constituted great nuisance to residents who are always clobbered and surrounded by teens  soliciting alms, while their supposed parents, able bodied, sit idly by the road side.

In their numbers, they dot major places like the ever busy Aba/ Owerri road, and others.

A statement issued and made available to The Source by the Coordinator of Aba Zone of Abia State Harmonized Task  Force, Chief Uche Wogu, on Wednesday August 7, 2024 said the beggars at Bata junction, along Aba/Owerri Road have been evacuated.

The Harmonized Task Force is also charged with the ongoing evacuation of street traders and other illegal road side business operators in the State.

The evacuation of the beggars, according to the statement, was personally led by Chief Nwogu, who is also the Mayor of Aba South Council.

“The Taskforce team led by the Mayor of Aba South, Uche Wogu, the Deputy Mayor, Nkiru Ugwu, Immigration Officers, led by Okoronkwo Jessy, as well as members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC,  evacuated more than 50 beggars today (Tuesday August 6) ”

The beggars Chief Wogu noted include Abians,  Akwa Ibomites, some Northerners and Niger Republic citizens.

He informed that those from Niger Republic will be handed over to the Immigrations, while the others will be taken to the Umuahia Rehabilitation Centre.

The statement also noted that some of the beggars from the Northern part of the country have been handed over to the Chief Imam of the Hausa Community in Aba, Idris Bashir.