Itinerant and wild-looking street kids, popularly known as Almajiri, have lately invaded Lagos, storming social gatherings to beg for food and money, investigations have revealed.
The kids, suspected to have come from the Northern part of the country to seek greener pastures in Lagos, move in droves to the venues of social gatherings such as wedding receptions and burial ceremonies to get free meals, usually from what is served guests at such parties.
Investigations revealed that these suspected Almajirai usually congregate in places such as Agege, IjoraOlopa, Idimu, Ikotun, Lagos Island, Ebute Metta and Abule-Egba.
What distinguishes them from the traditional beggars that are usually found at Idi-Araba and Kano Street in Ebute Metta is their modus operandi. While those operating in these areas are somewhat sedentary, these Almajirai new-kidson-the block are mobile, roaming in groups in search of what to eat. Of course, on sighting any big car like Jeeps or vehicles designated for charities, they simply encircle it, banging on its body in a desperate move to make the occupants to “drop something.”
During a week-long investigation by The Point’s correspondent, it was gathered that these kids made on the average per day enough money to feed 10 persons, aside from the supply of cooked foods that they get from events.
It was also gathered that while their parents would lurk around not too far from where such a social gathering was taking place, the kids would position themselves at some strategic points that would facilitate their swift movement at the slightest opportunity towards their targets.
“The kids, who are scarcely clothed will hold in their hands a nylon bag, large enough to carry foodstuffs that can feed between three to four persons,” said a foodstuff seller, who simply identified herself as Iya-Nla in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb.
Iya-nla disclosed to The Point that the presence of these wild-looking kids was first noticed in October last year, when they began to converge at a bus stop in company with some women suspected to be their mothers.
“But soon, they grew in number; today, they are all over the place, harassing any-well-dressed person they encounter, especially at parties and religious places,” she said.
Also speaking with our correspondent on the development, a welfare officer, Mr. Sunday Olukunle, said, “The kids know no courtesy as their eyes dart here and there whenever invited guests are served food at social functions. If a guest makes the mistake of leaving his food behind to attend to a friend or answer call of nature, the food will be swiftly taken away by these kids, who would giggle away. They yell at the owners as they scamper to the direction of their parents, who are eager to see the kids return with something to eat. You can call these kids whatever name, but I see them as the modern day Lagos Almajiris that have been compelled and pushed by the economic factor to find a greener pasture in Lagos.”
Olukunle, who chose to call them the “real wretched of the earth,” added, “They neither hear nor speak English language. The only language they understand is food Once they get hold of your food at any social gathering, you just have to surrender because their appearance alone will scare you”.
Recounting an encounter with these street kids, Yard Manager, Chellarams, Chief Idowu Osanyin Oladimeji, said, “It can be very nauseating to have an encounter with these new generation of kids.
I was at a friend’s party two Sundays ago at Mushin. They served me with pounded yam and Egusi soup. I took a piece of meat from the soup only to realise that I had to obey the call of nature. I left for barely two minutes and by the time I returned, I only discovered that everything was gone. I looked round in disbelief only for those who had had similar experience in the past to tell me to cool down. I was dumbfounded. However, I was served with another plate of food.“
But a lawyer, Mr. Giwa Amu, who runs a non-governmental organisation, only pitied the poor kids, blaming government for not doing enough to salvage their future.
Amu said that the resources being daily wasted by some governors and other government functionaries were enough to give these kids the best in terms of education.
“The kids need qualitative education, but the government has consistently denied them. They need parental care, but you somewhat discover that their parents too need to be rehabilitated. I think, the government must do something to get these kids off the streets; otherwise, they shall live to threaten the lives of those who denied them their rights. Education is part of their rights. Good housing is part of it. Something should be done by their state governors to rehabilitate them now,” he said.
