The Anambra State Government has started a major crackdown on groups that use children to beg for money in Awka, the state’s capital. This operation, carried out by the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Awka Capital Development Authority (ACTDA), resulted in the arrest of 30 children and some adults involved in begging.

The Aroma junction flyover bridge in Awka has long been a hotspot for child beggars, who are often controlled by these syndicates. Locals have complained that these children not only disrupt the area by begging during school hours but also engage in theft and create a general sense of disorder.

A resident shared that when charity groups come to distribute food, the children often create chaos and even steal valuables like phones from unsuspecting members of these organizations. A traffic warden in the area added that the children sometimes engage in dangerous activities, such as jumping from the flyover, and frequently fight among themselves and with passersby.

Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, explained that the children were not arrested to be punished but to help the government identify and catch the syndicates responsible for bringing them to the streets. She emphasized that Anambra State has a low number of out-of-school children and that the government is committed to keeping these children off the streets.

The operation, which faced some resistance from the children who tried to flee or fight back, will continue across Awka to ensure that no child is left vulnerable to exploitation by these syndicates.