Fake Blind Beggar Arrested With 10-Year Old Girl

CHUKA UBAH

A mild drama ensured in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, three days ago as nemesis caught up with a popular street beggar, Nzube Ekene, who had always pretended to be blind.

The mother of two, who often begged for money at the traffic light around the popular Fajuyi roundabout with a ten year old girl, who she trafficked, was arrested through the intervention of the chairperson of the Association of Women Lawyers known as FIDA, Mrs. Seyi Ojo.

During the arrest, the fake blind beggar, Ekene, was putting on tattered clothes and a hat that covered her face thus deceiving members of the public that she was blind. She usually sat on the floor while the teenage girl goes around begging for money from motorists and passengers held on by the traffic light.

Giving her account, FIDA chairperson, Mrs. Seyi Ojo, said she was in the queue of vehicles stopped by the traffic light when the girl approached her and begged for money, a situation she said touched her heart deeply. She said on getting to the office, she ordered the invitation of the woman with the hope of rendering possible assistance only to discover that she was fake.

According to Mrs Ojo, the woman was well dressed beneath but only covered herself with the rags so as to attract sympathy. Over eleven thousand Naira was found on her as at 11am when she was arrested. The little girl, whom she was using to beg for money could not hide her feelings as she grabbed the FIDA chairperson for rescuing her.

Narrating her ordeal the little girl, who gave her name as Ada, said the woman came to her mother in Imo State and requested that she go with her to the Southwest so that she can assist her in trading. She was said to have promised to enroll the girl in school, which she never did. Ada said she was surprised that after getting to Ado, the woman told her to be begging on her behalf. She said that she resisted at first but the woman beat and threatened her before she succumbed.

The little girl claimed that she had begged the woman, Ekene, overtime to allow her to speak with her mother but she even tore the book where she had earlier written her mother’s number. She also complained that the woman was in the habit of maltreating her despite the fact that they made a lot of money on daily basis.

The fake beggar, Ekene, said that she lives in Ikare, Ondo State but she is from Imo State. She claimed that she was involved in the business to survive due to lack of job. She confirmed that she lied to Ada’s mother about her job.

Ekene, the mother of two, has been handed over to NAPTIP for further interrogation.