Beggars Protest Eviction From Lagos Streets

Hundreds of beggars

on Monday
staged a peaceful protest to the Lagos State House Assembly (LAHA), over their
removal from the streets in the state.

The President of the Association of Physically Challenged,
Alhaji Jubril Hassan, said the government was wrong to have asked beggars off
the streets where they were enjoying their social rights.

Hassan also said it was illegal to deny them their
fundamental freedom of movement.

Hassan explained that in most cases, all their belongings
had been seized, while they were also maltreated by the management of the camp.

“The condition of the camp is appalling and devastating, it
causes more harm to our health. “It has come to our notice that very soon
anybody found giving us alms will be apprehended and imprisoned for two years,”
he added.

He, therefore, appealed to the government to rescind its
decision of denying the beggars the right to move freely within the state.

According to him, the policy will further aggravate their
suffering, instead of alleviating it. He called on the media, the NGOs and
human rights activists to come to their aid.

The Secretary of the association, Mr Zakariwai Hassan,
claimed that over 600 beggars had been arrested by the government without
providing adequate alternative for them.

Hassan urged the state government to look into their plight
and allow them to continue with their daily activities in the state.

The protesters were received by Mr Babatunde Panox, Special
Adviser to Gov. Babatunde Fashola on Security as the assemblymen were on
recess.

He advised them not to take the law into their hands,
promising that the government would find solutions to their problems.