A female beggar rescued, Monday
Lagos begins ‘Rescue Operation,’ as special team rounds up 128 beggars, destitute persons
Lagos Ministry of Youth and Social Development has commenced ridding streets in the state of beggars and destitute persons, barely few weeks after it announced plans clean up the environment.
The exercise tagged; ‘Rescue Operation,’ is being conducted by a special team of the Rescue and Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry, in collaboration with the police, Man ‘O’ War operatives, in addition to other volunteers.
The team operated in major councils and markets in Mushin, Fadeyi, Yaba, Lekki and Sabo areas of Lagos to rescue beggars as well as destitute and vulnerable people from the streets, under bridges, uncompleted buildings and other places unfit for human habitation.
Speaking after the exercise, Head of Rehabilitation and Rescue Department, Mrs. Olutoyin Jaiyeola disclosed that about 128 persons, including male and female, as well as, mentally challenged persons, destitute and beggars were rescued by the team from different areas of the state.
It would be recalled that state’s Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu while addressing a press conference at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, penultimate week, informed the public of the plan, purpose and modus operandi of the special team set up to rescue beggars, destitute and vulnerable persons.
“As a responsible and responsive government, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led-administration will not fold its arms and watch the state become a haven for beggars.
“Street begging is a social vice that we cannot afford to watch attain uncontrollable level before we act; otherwise, all the good plans and programs to transform our dear State would be adversely affected, which is same with street hawking,” the commissioner said.
