Exploitation of the Vulnerable

I’ve often been bothered about the seeming exploitation of the delinquent and vulnerable in our society. We see them litter our major roads…Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja etc…daily in traffic and at major junctions. 

We have the little children and women, perhaps their mothers: the kids chase/hang on cars and attempt to wipe the glasses as they beg alms. The danger they are exposed to! About noon, you see packaged foods have been delivered to them. Who arranges and brings these foods for them? Story about town is that it’s a business (cartel).

Within the crowd are people monitoring them to ensure none of the collections get missing. I’ve not independently verified this assertion but if these persons have a consistent and organized pattern as I’ve observed over time; there must be a sponsor.

Then we have another set with strange ailments, that appear in heavy traffic and stare you in the face. They are managed by a group that dress in white shirts, deep blue trousers and carrying green collection bags. The intention is not to get treatment for them but rather extort money from the public through them. That’s cruel, if you ask me!

It’s abuse of the vulnerable. Someone or some persons are taking advantage of a bad situation.

Should we justify these activities or turn our backs on them?  It appears to me that these activities are driven by man’s inhumanity to man. 

My first thought is what’s government doing about this apparent abuse? Where are the Agencies? Then I say No! It’s not always about the government. They should take the lead though.

What could WE do about it? We make up society. We should be responsible and accountable. How? Social Welfare? NGOs? Philanthropists? Me & you? All of us?

Government should create enabling environment for businesses to thrive. We need to create jobs to take idle minds off the road and off bad business. Government agencies should create a framework that protects the vulnerable 🙏🏾  

We should check this abuse amongst us. Yes. ✊👊🏾