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Abuja: Stop Wike’s plan to evict beggars, NGO urges Tinubu
Published
3 months agoon
By
Ekwutos BlogA Non-Governmental Organization, Long Term Solution for Destitute Initiative has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Neysom Wike over the ultimatum handed over to beggars to vacate the streets of Abuja,
The Chairman of the group, Dr Saleh Ibrahim, in a statement made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday said street begging is an embarrassment to any society that creates the conditions for the rise and growth of such poor and vulnerable people.
“I am particularly embarrassed by the fact that Northerners dominate the population of beggars in the country, despite our privilege of holding political power the longest.
“It’s a badge of shame. Islam forbids and discourages begging. Begging destroys one’s pride. It is an insult to self-esteem. In his last interview with the BBC Hausa Service shortly before his demise, General Hassan Usman Katsina admonished bitterly against begging.
“However, while we are commending the FCT Minister for his “courage” we shouldn’t ignore the human rights angle of the issue. We shouldn’t treat a complex issue superficially. Cosmetic approach to public policy usually makes a bad situation worse. Wike was not the first Minister to expel beggers”
The statement further said former FCT Minister Nasir El-Rufai had done the same thing before, but the beggars still floored back to Abuja.
“General Jerry Useini also expelled Abuja beggars to a remote forest in Zuru, Kebbi State, but the beggars found their way back. That means the picture is bigger than the surface level understanding of the issue by our policy makers, including Mr. Wike.
“Our constitution has conferred on citizens regardless of their social standing the freedom to reside in any part of the country. Meanwhile the beggers as part of the weak and vulnerable in our society have a right to be catered for in governance.
“The question that is begging for answer now is what has the FCT administration done in terms of catering for the welfare of the weak and vulnerable. Commendably the administration of former FCT minister Nasir El-Rufai built a settlement for the destitute in Yargoji on Abaji road.
“The settlement has a primary school and land for cultivation of food. According to Housing Rights Watch Policy analyst, Anna kompatscher (FEANTSA), “the stigmatization and penalisation of beggars and poor people have heavy consequences for their dignity.
“Banning begging but also other penalization strategies can push the people targeted by these measures further into poverty and social exclusion. A way forward can only be a change of mindset on begging as a criminal economic activity. If begging should be eradicated, then it should not be through penalisation and criminalization but thanks to a more supportive approach, helping low-income families to receive assistance and resources.
“Ironically, in Nigeria, those resources are stolen through corruption. The recent revelations about the large scale corruption in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs have exposed how billions of public funds meant for poor people were brazenly stolen. Corruption impoverished the people and make them more vulnerable.
“These vulnerable people are victims of multidimensional poverty. They can’t afford to send their children to school or afford the costs of basic medical care. They die of preventable diseases such cholera, malaria, meningitis and other infections.”
Saleh emphasised that treating beggars as criminals is morally offensive. “They’re victims of the corruption in the country. You can’t punish the victims of corruption and spare the perpetrators. In fact, beggars are the human debris of the devastating impact of pervasive poverty in the country.
“The current insecurity has aggravated poverty which in turn has made the victims to become beggars and refugees. A system that allows people to amass incredible wealth through corruption without consequences is worse than the menace of begging.
“The poor recruitment process into governance in our country is responsible for the endemic nature of begging in our polity. Indonesia, Kenya and several other countries have successfully researched and addressed the menace of begging.”
He, therefore, called on those in position of authority need to understand that addressing the menace of begging is not a rocket science.
“There are steps that are scientifically proven as international best practice of addressing such social problem where there is good governance and sincerity of purpose.”
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Yahoo Boy’ Arrested with Girlfriend’s Head in Polythene Bag
Published
22 mins agoon
January 13, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
A middle-aged man, identified as a suspected ‘Yahoo boy’ (Internet fraudster) was apprehended in Agwan Sarki Orozo, a community near Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, after the discovery of his girlfriend’s severed head.
Security agents, acting on an intelligence tip-off, raided an uncompleted building in the area, where the gruesome find was made.
The man, whose identity remains withheld, allegedly confessed to the crime, further revealing that the rest of the victim’s body was located at his residence.
The incident has left the Orozo community in shock, with locals expressing disbelief over the horrific crime.
Comrade Abwami Nuhuson Daniel, Secretary of the community, shared the disturbing news on Facebook, recounting his shock at witnessing such a crime in person.
“I thought I only saw things like this in movies, but today it happened right in my community,” he wrote.
While details remain scarce, the case has raised serious concerns about the dark intersection of ritual killings and Internet fraud within the region.
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Wife stabs husband to death over alleged extramarital affair in Ogun
Published
2 hours agoon
January 13, 2025By
Ekwutos BlogThe police in Ogun State have arrested one Iyanu Adedeji for allegedly stabbing her husband, Funsho Jimoh, to death after an argument in the Gbonogun area of Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Ekwutosblog learnt that the couple, who were married for 8 years, fought after the wife accused him of having extramarital affairs.
The 22-year-old mother of two, in the process, reportedly stabbed the deceased in the chest with a kitchen knife.
The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident on Monday, said the suspect, on discovering what she had done, rushed him to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, where he was confirmed dead.
The police in Ogun State have arrested one Iyanu Adedeji for allegedly stabbing her husband, Funsho Jimoh, to death after an argument in the Gbonogun area of Abeokuta, Ogun State.
DAILY POST learnt that the couple, who were married for 8 years, fought after the wife accused him of having extramarital affairs.
The 22-year-old mother of two, in the process, reportedly stabbed the deceased in the chest with a kitchen knife.
The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident on Monday, said the suspect, on discovering what she had done, rushed him to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, where he was confirmed dead.
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California: Wildfire death toll rises as Los Angeles set for more strong winds
Published
2 hours agoon
January 13, 2025By
Ekwutos BlogAt least 24 people have died as major wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area in the US state of California, the city’s medical examiner said on Sunday.
No fewer than 16 of the fatalities are related to the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, and eight others to the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades district.
There have been several major fires in the region since Tuesday, but these two are the most severe.
Officials fear the death toll may continue to rise, since it may take days before emergency services can safely access all areas impacted by the fires.
Firefighters were preparing for gusts to pick up again in the coming days, exacerbating what officials say could be one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.
The U.S. weather service forecast wind speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour for Sunday, which, combined with dry vegetation, favours the rapid and unpredictable spread of both existing and new fires.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Cal Fire warned of “critical fire weather” through to Wednesday.
“Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of Southern California – from Ventura to San Diego – creating a significant risk of rapid fire spread,” the department wrote on X.
It warned the wind would increase fire activity and urged people to avoid mowing their lawns and parking their vehicles on dry grass and to ensure all campfires were extinguished.
According to Cal Fire officials, some 12,300 buildings have been destroyed or damaged. Since Tuesday, almost 163 square kilometres of land have gone up in flames – a space almost the size of Washington D.C.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking to broadcaster NBC, said the wildfires would be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, in terms of the “scale and scope,” as well as the costs it has caused.
Newsom went on to sign an executive order to temporarily suspend environmental regulations for destroyed homes and businesses.
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