Govt Moves To Evacuate Lunatics, Beggars, Others

THE Ondo State government has reiterated its commitment to clear beggars, homeless persons and children from its streets. This effort is aimed at preventing people, who disguise as lunatics from perpetrating evil acts in the state.

The State Commissioner for Woman Affairs and Social Development, Lady Yemi Mahmud-Fasominu disclosed this shortly after the evacuation of some lunatics and destitute persons, across the 18 local government areas of the state.

Mahmud-Fasominu said the step is an exercise the government has finally resolved to take in order to put an end to the defacement of the state’s beautification projects.

She noted that the government’s step becomes necessary because of the report that such persons, who in their seeming innocence solicit for alms on the streets, serve as arms carriers for armed robbers. 

While assuring that government would not fold its arms and allow beggars and homeless people to overrun the state, she emphasised that the exercise would be a routine one.

According to her, “we are not going to maltreat them badly after removing them from the streets, we would put them in the rehabilitation centres and facilities, where government will be fully responsible for their welfare. What we are doing is that after treatment and rehabilitation, they can be re-integrated into the socio-economic activities of their communities. 

“The state government’s evacuation and rescue team would begin a massive and periodical raiding of beggars and destitute in a matter to curb destitute, as this would also help in strengthening the security situation in the state. We as a government will continue to do what we can, to make sure that they don’t constitute security threats in the society,” she said. 

Mahmud-Fasominu reiterated the commitment of the state government in collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the identification of illegal orphanages, as well as to eradicate child trafficking and child labour in the state. 

She however, urged parents not to frown at any physically challenged persons around them, but implored them to take good care of them by giving them medical attention at all times; saying it would help them to get quick recovery and also prevent them from roaming the streets.