A joint task force team from Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare and Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, OCHA Bridgade, has apprehended fifty street beggars, out-of-school children hawking on the streets of Awka and its environs.
The action, according to the team, was aimed at sanitizing the state and paving way for easy flow of traffic and rescuing out of school children in order to achieve the present administration’s clean, green and sustainable megacity agenda.
Areas visited were Arroma and Regina Ceali Junctions, UNIZIK Temporary Site, Akwata Junction, Amawbia Bypass and Eke Awka Market among others.
Among the arrested beggars were men, women and children, who hail from different parts of the country.
Speaking shortly after the raid, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, observed that there is an increase in the rate of children who hawk within Awka and beyond, increasing evidence of child labour and exploitations that contradict the Child’s Rights Law which the state is a signatory to.
Mrs. Obinabo restated that Anambra State Government frowns at child labour in any guise and reiterated that any child seen during school hours would be apprehended and sent to school.
In a chat with the ABS, some of the beggars, including Uju Obie, Afam Nweke and Ifeoma Chukwu, blamed the act on hardship and lack of financial assistance.
They solicited for financial assistance to enable them to start up some businesses and put their children back to school.
Some passersby, including Messers Dozie Obionwu and Emeka Adiene, commended the state government for its efforts in restoring sanity in the state calling for its sustainability.
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