Anambra Govt Arrests Woman for Using Child  to Beg for Alms

By Ikeugonna Eleke

The Anambra State Government has arrested a woman, Eneh Ogechukwu, for using a 10-year-old child to beg for alms, despite repeated warning to desist from it.

Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, who arrested her, also handed her over to the police, saying she would be charged to court.

She warned that the Anambra State Government would not tolerate any act that tended to exploit a child.

The 27-year-old woman who hails from Udi in Enugu State, was caught at Oyeolisa, Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area. She was using the 10-year-old girl, who hails from Benue State and had a tumour, for alms begging, claiming she wanted to raise money for her treatment.

She confessed that she started using her since December last year and had been able to save N100,000, as against N400,000 needed for her surgery.

Obinabo said the woman would be arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate Court in Awka, soon, while the child would be taken to the hospital for medical examination and possible treatment.