Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has said his administration is making efforts to curb street begging in the state.
Oshiomhole said this when he received members of the state chapter of International Federation of Women Lawyers who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House.
He said “I have directed the Commissioner for Women Affair to take firm measures to bring this incidence to an end; Edo cannot be a haven for beggars. We recognise the economic challenges but begging is not and will not be the solution and exposing children to begging is unhealthy.
“I will even appeal to Edo people not to give alms to child beggars because it doesn’t help as women and their fathers push these children to the street. They use them in the manner they do, hoping they will attract pity. The more pity we show to those kids, the more they are subjected to these dehumanising practices.”
He also called for stiffler measures against rape and other forms of Child abuse in the state. He said “We have discussed this, time and again at our Executive Council meetings. And at a point, we asked the Attorney-General to review the laws such that the number of years a convict gets will commensurate with the severe nature of rape and defilement.
“We are concerned; we have discussed this and we have a feeling that the number of reported cases are on the increase. We also know that, because of the nature of our environment, there will be several others that may not even be reported at all.
“When you look at the sheer number of rape cases that are recorded, it is clear that across the country both rape and defilement cases are increasing. Therefore, this calls for tougher measures on the part of those strengthening the law and providing for stiffer and harsher punishments than what is currently obtained and to also ensure that the few cases that are reported are properly prosecuted with a view to securing conviction.”