The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned four suspects for allegedly injecting two children with substances to make their stomachs swell up to beg for alms.
Press reported how the suspects were remanded last week in the Kirikiri area of Lagos State.
Their ruse was discovered when one of the victims reported the syndicate to the Ojudu Police Division.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, had earlier said the suspects paraded the children in road traffic as critically sick, to get alms from motorists.
A few days after, the suspects – Uchenna Eze (who is the manager), Onyedikachukwu Isiala, Ikechukwu Kingsley, and Smart Alasuomu – appeared before Justice Sikiru Adagun of the Apapa Magistrate Court.
They are charged with four counts bordering on conspiracy, placing and encouraging underage children in public places to beg for alms, deprivation of personal liberty and exploiting underage children.
All the alleged offences are punishable under the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015
The four suspects were arrested in connection with the abuse of children 11 and 13 years through engaging them in alms begging from passers-by across Lagos.
