Children advocates urge Oyo Assembly to make laws against street begging
Children advocates under the aegis of Child Protection Network (CPN), Ibadan Zone 1, have called on the Oyo State House of Assembly to enact laws and come up with policies
Children advocates under the aegis of Child Protection Network (CPN), Ibadan Zone 1, have called on the Oyo State House of Assembly to enact laws and come up with policies that will address street begging in the state.
The group also urged the Ministries of Health, Education, Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Chieftaincy Matters, Youth and Sports, Establishment and Training to synergise and playing their statutory roles in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to curb street begging that involves children and adults in the state.
The group said it is making the call after examining the current situation of children begging along major highways, which keeps them unsafe, exposed to danger and all forms of sexual abuses also accounts for the increase in the number of out of school children in Oyo state.
It added that the act of street begging which has been exposing children (male and female) to sexual harassment and abused should be investigated and perpetrators should be brought to book, noting that some of the street children are used as spy for armed robbers, kidnappers and ritualists.
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The group made the calls in a communique issued at the end of the Child Protection Network, Ibadan Zone 1, Oyo state Strategic Meeting for 2026 which held recently.
The communique was signed by the duo of Mrs Jadesola Ajibola and Mrs Lawal Omolabake the Zonal Coordinator and Secretary, respectively.
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It reads in part, "The children advocators in Ibadan Zone 1, having examined the current situation of children begging along major highways, which keeps children in unsafe space and exposed them to danger, all forms of sexual abuses and accounts for the increase in the number of out of school children in Oyo state agree on the following,
"That street children should be eradicated on our streets across Oyo state.
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"Exploiters of street children should be apprehended by security agents and prosecuted under the law.
"That the Oyo state house of assembly should enact laws and come up with policies that will address street begging in the state.
"That the Ministries of Health, Education, Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Chieftaincy Matters, Youth and Sports, Establishment and Training should play their statutory roles in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to curb street children and begging that involves children and adults in the state.
"That the act of street begging which has been exposing children (male and female) to sexual harassment and abused should be investigated and perpetrators should be brought to book."
It reads further "That government should move children without homes off the streets while providing basic social services such as food, education, healthcare services etc and empower their parents to provide for them to create a safer space for all children.
"That street children are prey to assault, social ills and prone to accident while being exposed to street life.
"That some of the street children are used as spy, armed robbers, kidnappers and ritualists.
"That all stakeholders especially stakeholder should swing into action as we all prepare to mark the 2026 International day for street children coming up in April, 2026."
