DUSTBIN FEASTING THRIVES IN CALABAR!

Do we have a government in place in Calabar at all:? No matter how much you embezzle and amass, you cannot take it anywhere, you cannot eat more than your stomach and too much wine will kill you, as per women, the beauty is always before the act, so why not take care of the people, please pause and ponder.

The Dustbins located in some strategic locations of the city usually serve as their last hope in search for food if there are no ceremonies in the city, while other valuables found in the debris are sold for money.

Christian Asuquo wearing a tattoo of the gangs logo on his arm



Calabar street children: “We sleep anywhere night meet us”

Street children picking food from a dustbin in Calabar

The peace and serenity of Calabar the Cross River State capital may soon be tested if the increase in the nefarious activities of street urchins and abandoned children who are now roaming major parts of the town are not nipped in the bud.

Investigations by CrossRiverWatch reveal that, these children who have either been pushed out of their homes by their parents or absconded from home for committing minor offenses have now bonded themselves into criminal gangs and are contributing to the security challenges within the city and constituting public nuisance.

The street children are between age 6 and 16 years and some of them told CrossRiverWatch that they sleep wherever night fall meets them but most of the time in an open ground along Marian Road opposite NAF club.

Our findings reveal that some of them are sometimes recruited by prostitutes around Atekong Junction and other adjourning streets to commit criminal acts.

The children according to our findings have already mush-roomed a cult group with various leaders and hierarchy with a Commander popularly known as ‘Obong Owoh.’ Obong Owoh is the overall boss who sends them out to find food and other needs of the group and also ensure that he provides for them whenever they are unable to provide for themselves.



Mathew Akpan, Second in Command to Obong Owoh

The Dustbins located in some strategic locations of the city usually serve as their last hope in search for food if there are no ceremonies in the city, while other valuables found in the debris are sold for money.

Interestingly, some of them are still dreaming of going back to school if government and society can avail them of opportunities.

Some of the children who spoke to CrossRiverWatch expressed their willingness to abandon crime and return to school if they can get the opportunity.