Anambra Govt orders arrest of woman for using sick child to beg for alms

A woman, Eneh Ogechukwu, has been arrested for failing to heed the warning of the Anambra State government to desist from using a 10-year-old child to beg for alms.

The state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, directed for arrest of and handing over of the woman to the police, saying she would be charged to court.

She warned that the Anambra State government will not tolerate any act that tends to exploit a child.

The 27 years old woman, who hails from Udi in Enugu State was caught at Oyeolisa, Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area. She was using the 10 years 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 has been able to save N100,000, as against N400,000 needed for her surgery.

Obinabo said the woman will 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.