Kaduna State beggers joined by their children over the weekend, threatened to sue the governor of the state, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai over the ban on their activities as they reportedly gave the state a 3-day ultimatum to rescind its decision.
The beggers disclosed that their threatened legal action is to protest against what they termed 'violation of their rights to life and defamation of character', and that the government was indirectly referring to them as 'terrorists,' because the government's declaration on their ban was made after the bomb blast in Zaria.
They also threatened that after the expiration of the ultimatum, they would return to the streets to continue their normal business and insisted that the ban on their activities was a wrong step in the wrong direction.
During the protest on Saturday, one of the beggars, Abdullahi Jugunu, said they were merely expressing their rights to fair hearing.
"We are not deterred by the government ban. We are giving the state a three-day ultimatum to reverse its decision. After three days, if nothing happens from the side of government, we will have no choice than to come to the street for our normal business."
Meanwhile, the governor on Saturday spoke through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, at a press conference, said the ban was necessary for security reasons and that the decision to temporarily restrict the activities of beggars and hawkers was for their safety.
"Kaduna State Government’s decision to ban hawking and begging in the state following last week’s bomb attack that killed 26 innocent citizens and injured 32 persons at the secretariat of Sabon Gari Local Government area of the state.
"The ban was necessitated by the security situation in the state and to ensure maximum protection of lives and property. The Kaduna State Government under, Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, will never unleash pains on beggars and hawkers in the state.
"As painful as it could be or misrepresented, the decision was taken in the best interest of our citizens and government appreciates support from all sections of the state regarding the reality of our security situation", Aruwan said.
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