Anambra State Government Rescues 16 Children Exploited For Begging

Awka, Anambra State- The Anambra State Government has rescued 16 people, including both children and adults, from the streets of Aroma Junction in Awka.

The victims, who had been exploited by syndicates for begging, were apprehended by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare in partnership with the Awka Capital Development Authority (ACTDA).

Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, media aide to the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday that the flyover bridge at Aroma Junction has been a notorious site for child beggars exploited by these syndicates.

Thee statement read, “In line with Governor Soludo’s mandate to remove school children from the streets, Women and Social Welfare Commissioner Hon. Ify Obinabo stated that the raid is not intended to victimize the children, but rather to target the syndicates that exploit them for begging.

“Obinabo also reiterated the state government’s commitment to maintaining a low number of out-of-school children in the state.”

Meanwhile, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Mr. Ossy Onuko, said the operation is a welcome development in taking children off the streets and assured that his agency will support efforts to ensure a livable and prosperous homeland.

He stated that it was a tough battle rounding up the street kids, as they immediately fled when the enforcement team attempted to arrest them, with some putting up a fight.

However, they were eventually rounded up, bundled into waiting vehicles, and taken away.

Obinabo stated that the operation will continue in all parts of Awka to ensure that the town is free of children being exploited by syndicates to beg for alms.

Following the operation, identification of the children and adults began, revealing that all the arrested individuals were not indigenes of Anambra; some were from Ebonyi State or Enugu State.

The Women Affairs boss assured that contact tracing of the children’s parents will begin in earnest.

Residents of the area have reported that the presence of these children constitutes an eyesore as they run around during school hours begging for alms and have also created nuisance in the community.