Lady Evangelist Arrested For Using Kids For Street Begging In Ikorodu Lagos

The officials of Lagos State Police Command
have rescued 11 children used for street
begging by a church in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
As a result, a female evangelist with the
church has been arrested and is being
interrogated at the police headquarters, Ikeja
.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai
Owoseni who paraded the suspects yesterday
said the lid was blown off when two of the
under aged children were seen begging for
arms.
Owoseni said detectives after interviewing the
children, stormed the church premises where
others were rescued and one Lois Antinso
was arrested. The CP said the church was
being investigated to know its involvement in
using the children for slavery.
The suspect, Atinso said
“I am attached to the church. I am an
Evangelist in the church. We run an
orphanage/less privileged home at Agbede
road, Ikorodu. We care for the poor, needy,
orphan, widow, destitute and abandoned. All
support funds are paid to the church’s
account.
“I was shocked when the Bishop of the church
came to the police to deny me. We go out
three times, a month to beg for assistance. It
is not as if I leave the children to go on their
own. I am saying that the children are too
small to speak. The police interrogated them
and they started talking as if I allow them to
go alone. The day I was arrested I was taking
two of the children, nine and 10 to the bank
to teach them how to use ATM. It was not as
if I took them out for begging”
One of the children, Nnoso said
“We were begging when the police picked us.
We used to go for begging three times a
week. People used to give us alms, food
items, clothes, shoes and money. We used to
hand over the things to Aunty.
“I came to Lagos in company with one of my
aunties .She took me to the church and
handed me over to the aunty in the church.
My aunty in the church warned that whenever
my mother called from the village, I should
tell her that I am alright and that I must not
tell her that I am in the church. Each time
my mummy called, I used to tell her that I
was with my real aunty that brought me from
Imo state to Lagos.”