Kaduna State Beggars Threaten to Sue Gov. Nasir El-Rufai To Court Over Ban On Street Begging

Governor Nasir El-Rufai

Beggars in Kaduna State have threatened to sue the Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai led government over the ban on their begging activities.

They also gave the state government a three-day ultimatum to rescind its decision.

They said the legal action was to protest against what they termed violation of their rights to life and defamation of character.

They added that by the ban, the government was indirectly referring to them as “terrorists,” because the action was taken after the bomb blast in Zaria, a major city in the state.

They also threatened that after the expiration of the ultimatum, they would return to the streets to continue their normal business.

The beggars insisted that the ban on their activities in the wake of the Zaria bomb blast which claimed about 40 lives and property worth millions of naira, was a wrong step in the wrong direction.

While protesting on Saturday, one of the beggars, Abdullahi Jugunu, said they were merely expressing their rights to fair hearing.

Jugunu said, “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.”

The beggars were joined by women and their children who chanted songs against the government adding that they felt insulted by the action of the government.