By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Association for the Blinds in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State has called on the state government to release over 140 of their members that were arrested on the streets.

The Public Relations Officer of the group, Mallam Sadiku Ahmad, disclosed this while briefing journalists Tuesday, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat, Kaduna.

He lamented that all of their members were arrested by the security agents and taken to Hajj camp in Mando in lgabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to him, more than eight hundred persons living with disability have been chased out of shelter by the security operatives in the state.

“The action was precipitated by Kaduna State Government. Our members were not only maltreated, but also forced out of the house using security agents with guns,” he said.

He said some of their leaders explained that they are indigenes of the state.

“We have been living in Kaduna state for the past 30 to 40 years. Some of the political appointees and some of those holding political offices were born before our eyes, so we’re indigenes.

“We don’t have any other place to go and it is sad and also unfortunate for government to eject us from our house without giving us any other alternative,” Ahmad further said.

The group appealed to the government to be compassionate, and also provide them with the means of livelihood and accommodation.

According to him, begging is a not a business enterprises, adding that they’re there not because of likeness but because of the circumstances they find themselves, and therefore appealed to government to provide them with skills acquisition training to enable them cater for themselves and their families.

Speaking to the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development Hafsat Mohammed Baba, warned that the state had already ban street begging and anyone found on the street with be arrested.

She further explained that the beggars poorly utilised the accommodation given to them by the government which left them with no any option than to send them out of the house and demolished it.

Hajiya Hafsat Baba lamented that the beggars contributed negatively to child abuse and dirty their environment.

Officials of Association for the Blinds in Kaduna North LGA at the press conference . . . on Tuesday in Kaduna

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