Residents lament as beggars flood Yobe capital

Residents of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, have expressed concern over the increase in the number of beggars on the streets.

The residents said the heavy presence of the beggars was disturbing, noting that begging and loitering were not part of the culture and character of the indigenous Kanuri people.

City & Crime learnt that beggars are always on the streets, near restaurants, motor packs, markets, and worship centres, among others.

It was gathered that many of the beggars moved to Damaturu from Maiduguri, Borno State, as a ban on begging in the state took effect two weeks ago.

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Ibrahim Balarabe, a resident, “The logical thing for Yobe to do is to borrow a leaf from Borno. Begging, especially by kids, cannot be in the character of right-thinking people.’’

Another resident, Babangida Aminu, said the most disturbing thing was that they had even started coming to some housing estates in Damaturu, going from house to house and knocking on doors.

The residents, therefore, called on relevant authorities to do the needful, saying serious actions were needed to curtail the menace.

Efforts to speak to state government officials on the issue did not yield any result.