The Oyo State government has reiterated its commitment to bringing to an end the menace of vagrancy, street begging and other societal ills, even as it also during the week rescued a homeless woman and her twin daughters from off the streets within Ibadan metropolis.
The rescue team, which comprises of top management officers of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, was led by the honourable commissioner, Hon (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun, on Thursday.
The commissioner said that the exercise is in line with the agenda of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration to improve the welfare and well-being of the vulnerable and destitute in the society, while ensuring that they are also beneficiaries of the sustainable development agenda of the government.
During the rescue exercise, the commissioner stated that the state government is committed to rehabilitating as many destitute as possible and reintegrate them back into society, as they are part of the citizenry of the state.
She stressed that “destitutes are not only homeless individuals that live on the street, but they form part of the poorest of the poor/ extremely poor, who lack the wherewithal to provide for their basic needs, hence the need for the government and society at large to stand in the gap by putting in place safety net measures, until they are able to stand on their feet and get reintegrated back into society after becoming productive both to themselves and the society at large.”
Heart-rendingly the rescued vagrant woman has been spotted sleeping outside at the mercy of the elements and unscrupulous miscreants in different locations with her vulnerable, under-aged twins, who according to investigations, have never been enrolled in the school system.
Mrs. Balogun elicited salient information from the young lady, who was a student of Mass Communications at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before the vicissitudes of life altered her life trajectory.
She said that the Governor Makinde-led government will not relent in its quest to improve on the quality of life of the citizenry across board, without leaving anyone behind
Earlier, the commissioner had mandated the ministry staff to keep an eye out for the woman and her kids since a couple of weeks ago, when she first received reports about the subjects, but apparently, the young lady somehow got wind of the rescue efforts and changed location before she and her kids could be rescued.
Fortunately, a good Samaritan spotted them along the Jericho axis, and the intel got to the commissioner, who swooped into action with her team.
A cordon was laid for the woman and fortunately the commissioner was able to connect with her and peacefully evacuated her and her kids from the spot.
She was taken to a tertiary health institution, which has requisite facilities for the treatment of mental health issues, where she is presently admitted for treatment.
Meanwhile, her kids were taken to a state owned facility from where they would be taken for treatment and then eventually settled back into the school system.
The evacuation exercise was carried out by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, led by the honourable commissioner and her team, with invaluable support from the Chief Medical Director, CMD, University College Hospital, UCH, Prof Otegbayo, Dr. Abdulmalik and Mr. Tunji of ASIDO Foundation – a non-governmental organisation, NGO, involved in advocacy for and treatment of people with mental health challenges, Dr. Bamgbose, a mental health specialist with the UCH, among others.
