The Kano State Government has arrested 200 street beggars and Almajiri children for allegedly violating the Law banning street begging in the state.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Zahra’u Muhammad-Umar, made the disclosure in Kano on Monday.
The word ‘Almajiri’ refers to the children of the non formal Quranic schools commonly found in northern Nigeria.
Muhammad-Umar said that following the ban on street begging in the state, the ministry arrested the beggars and almajiri children in Kano metropolis with 60 per cent being women, children and men, and 30 per cent almajiri.
“Some of those arrested sleep under bridge while some on the streets.
“Most of the beggars and almajiri children are from Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe, among others while only few are from Kano State,” the commissioner said.
Muhammad-Umar noted that the decision to arrest the street beggars was to safeguard their future and make Kano State and Nigeria a better place for all.
“We noticed that because Kano is peaceful, that is why they came. It is very dangerous to leave them on the streets without knowing their parents, adding that bad behaviour is mostly found among the beggars.
“We will continue to arrest them to ensure sanity and rid the streets of all forms of crimes,” she said.
She explained that those arrested from other states would be transported to their states on March 16, and handed over to their parents.
The commissioner said the state would render some assistance so that the almajiri children could go back to school.
Meanwhile, the commissioner said the ministry also re-arrested a woman that was given N10,000 empowerment to enable her to be self reliant but continued begging.
“I personally gave her N10,000 from my hard earned money and she promised to stop street begging. I will make sure she is prosecuted.”
While calling for closer collaboration with the government to curb street begging and urged the people of the state, especially women, to take care of their children to be good citizens.
Muhammad-Umar also advocated for legislation on prosecution of street beggars.
NAN recalls that the Kano State Government on Feb. 5, arrested 500 beggars and transported them to their various communities and also empowered 60 beggars with different entrepreneurial skills. (NAN)
