The Anambra State Government has evacuated street urchins and child beggars from the state capital, Awka, as part of efforts to restore order and promote child welfare. The children, officials said, will be sent back to school, with the cost of their education to be covered by the state.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), which carried out the exercise. The agency emphasized that the presence of street children would no longer be tolerated within the capital territory.
ACTDA also cautioned the public against distributing alms or gift items to children on the streets, warning that such acts encourage civil disorder and are now considered offences under the law.
“ACTDA strongly warns all individuals and groups to desist from distributing any form of alms or gifts to the destitute in public spaces,” the statement read. “Instead, charitable acts should be channelled through accredited organisations such as orphanages, care homes, and registered NGOs, where support can be professionally administered.”
The agency stressed that anyone found giving out food or gifts to children in public spaces within the capital would be prosecuted. It also warned against the exploitation of minors as street vendors, saying that perpetrators will face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Child Care Initiative (CCI), Mr. Chuka Nnorum, has commended the state government for what he described as a bold step towards social reorientation.
“This is a welcome development. We commend the Governor and urge parents and guardians to either enroll these children in schools, take advantage of the state’s free education policy, or engage them in the One Youth Two Skills initiative,” Nnorum said in a separate statement.
The move is part of the government’s broader strategy to prevent the growth of street gangs, touts, and hoodlums, while promoting education and responsible parenting across the state.
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze
