One hundred and twenty beggars and destitute have been convicted just as 1,708 of them were sent packing from Lagos State to their various states and countries by the government.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru, said this on Thursday during a press conference in Ikeja.

Reacting to the civil society organisations's condemnation of the government's clampdown on beggars, he said the present administration respected the rights of persons living with disabilities, adding that government would, however, not bend the law when such groups of persons fall foul of the law.

He said, "Nearly everyday when my men go on enforcement, this same set of people draw daggers and knives on my staff; they stab and bite them to evade arrest because they broke the law and when such a person is taken to court to be convicted, a person sits down in his air-conditioned office raining abuses on us for doing what is right."

He noted that some of those convicted posed as beggars in the traffic to rob unsuspecting motorists. He vowed that government would not stop its clampdown on them until the trend was nipped in the bud.

He said the 1,708 beggars and destitute ejected from the state were either sent back to their states of origin, while foreigners among them were repatriated.

He said the rehabilitation office dealt with the issues of begging and destitution in the state and that in line with the government's policy of ridding the streets of such persons, the office had consistently embarked on an aggressive raid of beggars, mentally challenged and the destitute from the streets, highways and bridges of Lagos.

Badru stated that the mode of getting this category of persons into the rehabilitation centres was by referrals from members of the public and rescue operations carried out by the Office of Youth and Social Development.

He said, "In the last one year, a total number of 3,114 beggars, destitute persons and mentally challenged were rescued in day and night operations.

"No fewer than 2,695 were taken to the Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Owutu, Ikorodu, where government has provided facilities to help in turning their lives around.

"Forty-eight children and toddlers were transferred to the Child Protection Unit; another 48 street children, cleaning windscreens at intersections, were rescued and transferred to the Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun; eight were transferred to the Child Transit Home, Idi Araba, while 315 Persons (203 male and 54 female) suspected to be criminals were handed over to the task force for prosecution."


http://punchng.mobi/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/metro/lasg-jails-120-beggars-ejects-1708-others/

Only lagos state is operating like a country, so they can deport person.. Na waoh

It is now a crime to be a beggar
Who gave lagos state government all these rights?

Dibiachukwu: It is now a crime to be a beggar
Who gave lagos state government all these rights?

lwkmd this people are damn funny

Grabs popcorn waiting for showdown
frontpage pls mukina i can see u

shutdown system....virus alert!!!!

where will you deport nigeria beggers to ? are we not one nigeria even in amelica there are beggers

Fashola Ori e wa nbe Omo iya

How come beggars are being deported in Lagos.
Thought they have beggars street very close to Kano street in Ebute-metta
What will happen to those beggars there?
Just wondering

Fashola is working. . He dont give a damm!

EKO O NI BAJE!!!!

Haters go jump from 3rd mainland bridge.

Dibiachukwu: It is now a crime to be a beggar
Who gave lagos state government all these rights?

Why dnt u give them the humble opportunity in ur state?

Is beggin a job?

I didn't hear him going into offices or markets and deporting them. So what are u saying!

I think it's affecting u. We knw the beggers are ur informants and grass to your various crimes. By ur username, u shld either be a kidnapper, or an armed robber!

Good one. These beggars are too much in lagos, a beggar was trying to harrass a lady for not giving her money in ikorodu. Abeg chase them out.

instead of jailing these beggars, they can as well be rehabilitated.

I dnt no wht is worng wt lagos state Govt deporting piple in their own fathers land is lagos another conutry or nig?

They should av provide 4 their needs instead of jailin or deportin dem.....hungry moda f*ckers......

Dibiachukwu: It is now a crime to be a beggar
Who gave lagos state government all these rights?

Oh boy!!

I now understand why your handler is 'Dibiachukwu'

Dibiachukwu: It is now a crime to be a beggar
Who gave lagos state government all these rights?

Dnt mine them bt time will tell

Don't blame fashola for everything.The way people are trooping to lagos nowadays for greener pastures is alarming.So if they know they cannot take care of theirselves in lagos they should go back to their villages where life should be less stressful for them.

Burger01:
Oh boy!!

I now understand why your handler is 'Dibiachukwu'

The guy na igbo wannabe now

Akpa ife: I dnt no wht is worng wt lagos state Govt deporting piple in their own fathers land is lagos another conutry or nig?

When El Rufai did in it Abuja people said all sorts of things against him but now everybody loves Abuja. So it's normal for people to rain abuses on Fashola for doing the right thing. I only hope care homes will be set up for such people.

You make stupid policies that creates destitute and beggars just to deport them.

He said the 1,708 beggars and destitute ejected from the state were either sent back to their states of origin, while foreigners among them were repatriated.

And someone was arguing that Nigerians were not wicked to themselves
How does Fashola know their state of origin
Are there ID cards on beggars
Some of these are abandoned children by unwed teenage teenage mothers who know no other homes but the streets of Lagos but Fashola wants them anywhere but Lagos
He will take them at night and dump them in Oyo state

You make stupid policies that creates destitute and beggars just to deport/arrest them smh

Pipsland78:
When El Rufai did in it Abuja people said all sorts of things against him but now everybody loves Abuja, so it's only normal for people to rain abuses on Fashola for doing the right thing. I only hope care homes will be set up for the destitutes.

People were deported from Abuja
Please when?

I think this is a right step in the right direction. Kudos to the Lagos State Government. The rate at which these destitutes are flocking around Lagos is quite alarming. Major roads and pedestrian bridges have become their places of abode not minding their safety and that of other Lagosians. Typical hotspots are Ketu and Mile 12 environs. These persons of Northern origin have practically turned these place to eyesore and even engage in show of dominance in the area against the natural inhabitants. It is high time drastic measures are put in place to check their excesses or better still rid them totally from Lagos if rehabilitation is not an option.

omo i make frontpage. cant believe.....

toby09: instead of jailing these beggars, they can as well be rehabilitated.

and it is lagos state's duty to rehab beggars From other states abi? Waka pass before i vex give you one dirty slap

Burger01: EKO O NI BAJE!!!!

Haters go jump from 3rd mainland bridge.

You're a pain in the ar.se and one of my nemesis on this darn forum.

But this cracked me up!!

A citizen of Federal Republic of Lagos!!!

100% in support