THE Kano State Government has sent 33 beggars to their states of origin as part of efforts to enforce the law banning street begging in the state.
The Director General of the State Hisba Board, Dr Abba Sufi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano that the repatriation commenced on Wednesday.
NAN recalls that Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso signed the Street Begging Prohibition Bill into law on Dec. 19, 2013.
According to Sufi, the affected beggars were apprehended last week by the committee set up by the State Government to enforce the law.
He said 10 of the affected beggars were from Jigawa, 15 from Katsina, while the remaining eight were from Kaduna.
“They are now on their way to these states and will be handed over to the respective Secretaries to the State Government (SSGs) on arrival’’, he said.
According to him, seven mentally deranged persons have also been taken to Dorayi Psychiatric Hospital for proper care and treatment.
“They will be treated and taken care of until when they recover and become mentally sound’’, he said.
Sufi disclosed that the board had prosecuted one beggar in one of the Sharia courts for refusing to stop begging.
He said the affected person was sentenced to three months imprisonment but with an option of N10,000 fine.
He restated the commitment of the state government towards ensuring effective enforcement of the law.
NAN recalls that the state government recently launched empowerment programme for the less-privileged and physically- challenged persons in the state. (NAN}
