RSG Apprehends 116 Lunatics, Beggars

The Rivers State Government has restated its resolve to rid the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs of beggars and lunatics.

Permanent Secretary in the state ministry of social welfare and rehabilitation, Mrs Louisa Ezinwo who made the declaration on Friday after she led officers and workers of the ministry on a street raiding exercise of lunatics in Port Harcourt, said 116 lunatics were apprehended at major and minor streets in Port Harcourt.

According to the permanent secretary the beggars and lunatics would be sent to the state rehabilitation centre, Iribe, as those not from the state would be sent back to their states of origin.

She restated the resolve of the state government to give the city a new lease of life, stressing that the ministry would continue to raid the streets of Port Harcourt to rid them of beggars and mad people until they could no longer be found.

Mrs Ezinno, however, regretted that the beggars abound on the streets because some members of the public encouraged them by giving  them alms and urged the people of the state to stop patronizing beggars.

Rather than approaching pedestrians, she said beggars should go to churches and mosques to beg for alms so that they would not constitute nuisance to members of the public.

The permanent Secretary hinted that the exercise would be extended to local government areas, hence it would no longer be business as usual for beggars again in the state.