RRS nabs seven using physically challenged children to beg

The decoy team of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos Police Command has arrested seven suspects for importing eight physically challenged children into the state for the purpose of begging on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja.

The seven suspects, along with six of their eight beggars were arrested on Monday at Mobolaji Bank Anthony way after almost a week of monitoring by the Decoy Team of the unit.

The arrest, according to the RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, was based on intelligence received from one of its social media platforms, indicating that some group of people were importing physically challenged children into Lagos and were using them as beggars.

Amongst the suspects arrested are: Sanni Isiaku (40), Abubakar Gahu (50), Abdullahi Mohammed (45), Nasiru Yusman (21), Mato Abdullahi (20), Nura Idris (17) and Sagiru Ibrahim (26).

The physically challenged children found in their possession are, Aminu Kabiru (12), Yusuph Nasiru (9), Amina Kabir (12) and Ayuba Idris (12).

During preliminary interrogation, Mato narrated, “I hired Amina from her mother who happened to be my sister. I bring her early in the morning to ‘Under bridge’ to beg.

She begs while I hang around. At the end of the day, we make between N3000 and N4000. Depending on what we make, I remove my own and I hand over the remaining to her.

Before, we make between N5000 and N6000, but things have changed. A lot of us are here now.

Before you get to one car, another set of beggars has gotten there.

We have other people we settle daily. He is like our overseer.

He has his own cut in what everybody makes.

He comes through for us whenever there are problems like arrests.”