Oyo State Government on Thursday evacuated no fewer than forty-eight destitute and homeless children in Ibadan, the state capital.
The action, according to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Saani, was done as parts of activities in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day.
Saani led the team, which comprised the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Christiana Abioye, a Social Worker, to evacuate the forty-eight people at Iwo Road round about and under the bridge in Mokola roundabout, where 48 people, comprising children, beggars and mentally-derailed persons were picked and taken to rehabilitation centres for care.
Saani, while speaking, maintained that the evacuation was necessary to make a better living for the concerned individuals as the destitute and those with mental health issues would be taken to rehabilitation centers while children used to beg would be taken back to school.
“The raid was meant to clear the streets of street children, beggars, mentally-derailed persons who have become an eyesore to the State and to give them necessary attention at the rehabilitation centers while the children will be registered in schools.
“Government noticed recently that there has been an increase in number of destitute in the state and it is quiet alarming. We can give attention to them at the appropriate places instead for them to constitute something unpleasant to the major roads and public places.
“You can see that there are children of school age that were used to beg for alms by their own parent. we have said earlier that the present administration would not close its eyes to such and today, the exercise to clean our public places of such has started. These students are suppose to be in school, but they preferred to use them to beg, even when government has provided free education and free books.
“For those apprehended, we will take their proper documents and move them to rehabilitation homes where government would be responsible for their up keep because we are particular about their welfare and also take them to hospitals for medical care.”
Saani assured that, the raid would be a continuous exercise that would extend to every community in Oyo state.
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