Oyo Govt Goes Tough On Street Begging, Raids Ibadan Metropolis For Violators Of Law

By Ayodele Oni

The war against street begging in Oyo state is intensifying. The State Government has just announced that it intercepted a cartel, which specializes on ferrying people from the Northern part of the country to the State for the purpose of begging.

This is just as 32 suspected beggars were raided in Ibadan metropolis for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the State.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun disclosed this at Akinyele resettlement centre, Ibadan, where the beggars were lodged.

She added that the suspects were apprehended on Thursday afternoon during a special raid carried out by officers of the Ministry and security agents between in the metropolis.

According to Balogun, the State Government frowned at the menace, which has become an eye sore in the society, stressing that it is a crime to beg on the streets in Oyo State.

The commissioner stressed that the menace was not only affecting the beauty of highways but a risk to the beggars lives as they can be knocked down or crushed by speeding vehicles.

She explained that the State Government was working on making the Resettlement centre at Akinyele more conducive for these set of people, adding that food will be provided for them, while they undergo vocational training on simple, but profitable crafts for their source of livelihood.

Also, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, said during a tour of Egbeda Local Government, on Thursday, that he accosted a suspected “co-ordinator of beggars” (names withheld), who specializes in conveying beggars from the Northern part of the country to the State.

The Commissioner who described the menace as greatly traumatic, disclosed that, the governor has  discribed the infiltration and convergence of beggars within the metropolis as against the provisions and policy of Oyo State Government.

He vowed, that street beggars, who refuse to take advantage of the magnanimous gesture of Oyo State Governor’s accommodation, specifically built for them, at Moniya, in  Akinyele Local Government, would, henceforth face deportation to their home state.

The Commissioner, disclosed that, necessary conclusions have been reached, with his counterparts at the Women Affairs, Community Development and Social Welfare, Mrs Toyin Balogun to the effect that  vendors and consultants bringing in beggars to the State would be apprehended and prosecuted.