Oyo Evacuates Another 140 Street Beggars

Oyo Evacuates Another 140 Street Beggars

Oyo state government on Wednesday, continued the evacuation excercise by removing 140 street beggars from major roads, streets and shanty areas in Ibadan and its environs to the Resettlement centre at Old Trailer Park, Akinyele, Moniya.

 

The second phase of the exercise which started from Bodija market to UI/Ojoo axis, through Iwo road interchange to Mokola roundabout axis began around seven in the morning, with two Pacesetter luxurious buses and three 18-seater buses fully loaded with male and female beggars with their children, had the Commissioners for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni and her counterpart from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Barrister Lateef Oyeleke, alongside with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Christiana Abioye in the team.

Speaking with the newsmen after the excercise, Alhaja Sanni said the second phase of the evacuation was a success.

“It was a success as you can see, if you go to the Resettlement centre at Akinyele, you will see them there, although some of them had escape, that is why we are here again after one week to repeat the excercise which is continuous.

“This is Mokola roundabout, the beggars were more than two hundred, but as soon as they sighted us they started running away, but on the whole , it’s an effort that is worth doing to rid our society of criminals, beggars and destitutes who have become an eyesore to the State and to give them necessary attention at the Resettlement centre instead of constituting nuisance on our roads and public places.”

She gave a warning to those harbouring the beggars to stop the act as Oyo state government would not fold its arms and allow beggars to overrun the state.

Citing a such case at Iwo road interchange of one Mrs Foluke Adebayo Olawale who was alleged to be harboring some beggars and sabbotaging the efforts of the State government by preventing the officials to evacuate the beggars, Alhaja Sanni said the woman has been reported to Anti-human trafficking centre for necessary action.

While commending the support of the people of Oyo state in ensuring the success of the exercise, most especially the commercial bus/taxi drivers by giving information about the hideouts of the beggars, Sanni appealed to residents of the State to continue to support the course of the government at all levels.

“We will continue to appeal to not just the Hausa Community but whosover that releases his or her wards to the street to come and beg that a law will soon be enacted and they will face the consequences of the law if anyone is found roaming, begging and becoming a nuisance in the State.

Meanwhile, 500 of the already evacuated individuals have been captured in the data capturing exercise at the settlement since last Saturday to make adequate plan for the beggars.