Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s government has vowed to arrest and prosecute parents and guardians of child hawkers and beggars.
According to the government, this trend is unacceptable to us and we will stop at nothing in arresting the situation.
The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, gave the hint Saturday during the celebration of the International Day of Families.
She said the measure would ensure the survival, development and protection of all the children in the state, as well as serve as deterrent to parents and guardians.
According to Obinabo, “The rate of children hawking and begging on our streets, the rate of child sexual abuse, trafficking and maltreatment in the state, has become alarming.
“The use of children for domestic labour, negligence and maltreatment on the part of parents and guardians, contradicts the tenets of the Child Rights law.
“The ministry is ready to arrest and prosecute anyone – parents or guardians, who abuse the fundamental rights of children in the state
“From next week, if we see any child hawking or begging on the street, that child will identify whoever engaged him or her and we will arrest the person.
“Education and proper upbringing of our children is the only way to eradicate poverty and crime in our society.
“These children need care, love, support and sense of belonging, not abuse or domestic labour,” the Commissioner said.