The Lagos State Government have rounded up no fewer than 80 children – street urchins – for begging in different parts of the state.

It was gathered that the step was part of measures to protect the street children from the COVID-19.

“Within the period of this coronavirus, the state has taken between 80 to 100 children.

It is in their interest because these children are vulnerable and could be easily exposed to the COVID-19,” The Punch quoted a source said.

The state Commissioner for Social and Youth Development, Olusegun Dawodu, said the government was always guided by the Child Rights Law.

He explained that children picked from the streets were usually taken before a magistrate who would assess them.

“We are picking up street children irrespective of their states of origin. We have been doing that on a regular basis. As we see them, we pick them up. This is backed by the Child Rights Law. The law says no child must be used for the purpose of begging for alms or hawking.

“Any child that we see under the age of 18, we pick him or her up and take them to our homes and there is a process for that.

“While some have relatives or parents in Lagos and we try to reunite them with their parents, some run away from homes over maltreatment. This is not directed at one particular ethnic group,” he added.

According to Dawodu, children in the state facilities are well treated and given clothes and food at the expense of the state government.

He insisted that such children were no prisoners.

“For the past six to seven months, we have been picking children from the streets. They are no prisoners. We feed them, clothe them and check them medically,” he added.

Dawodu said no child had been taken since the lockdown on the movement started, adding that only “before and after easing of the lockdown”.

Punch