In a bid to ensure the safety of residents and guarantee the protection of vulnerable people, the Ekiti State Government has concluded plans for the immediate evacuation of destitute individuals, beggars, mentally ill persons and those identified as miscreants from the streets of Ado Ekiti and its environs.
The Special Adviser to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola who made this known in Ado-Ekiti said that the primary objective of the exercise is to facilitate unrestricted movement of the populace without fear as well as preventing potential incidents involving citizens and individuals facing mental health challenges.
Agboola noted that the exercise was expected to also among other things prevent the exploitation of mentally ill destitute persons by criminals and also prevent the use of the guise of mental illness by some criminally-minded individuals for nefarious activities.
She stressed further that this exercise would additionally enable the government to extend assistance to genuine destitute individuals and beggars, providing them with necessary psychosocial support and interventions which aligns with the provisions outlined in the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Prohibition Law (2020), thus far ensuring their access to democratic benefits.
The Special Adviser said that the State Officials and Security personnel would soon commence the operation to bolster the security measures in preparation for the yuletide season and the upcoming year.
Agboola sought the cooperation of all residents of Ekiti State in achieving the objective of the exercise for the betterment of the State.
Packaged by Mayowa Owogbade
