Street Beggars Protest In Lagos, Demand Skill Acquisition Schemes
Beggars in Lagos on Tuesday took to the street to protest to protest against continuous arrest of their members by officials of the state government.
The beggars who stormed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s office in 10 buses and seven tricycles, also barricaded the entrance to the State House of Assembly as they demanded for audience with the Lagos State Governor.
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CityNews understand that of the things the beggars are demanding for are: a stop to continuous prosecution of their members and provision of skill acquisition schemes for people with disabilities.
They held placards with inscriptions which read: “Save the waterfront, enforced conviction, we demand justice,”If you don’t want to see us begging on the streets, give us skills and empowerment,” “Seeing beggars all over our streets and roads is the failure of the system” and “We are tired of running without legs or eyes, give us skills and empowerment.”
Mohammed Zanna, Spokesperson and Coordinator of Physically Challenged Empowerment Initiatives (PCEI), recounted how some of them were arrested during a similar protest in 2017 and taken to Majidun, which he described as a prison.
He alleged that they were ill-treated and manhandled by government officials, leading to death of some of their members.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjtw559gDco]
