Police apprehend evangelist who uses children for begging

ayodele johnson

October 31, 2016 7:57 PM

Report says that the female evangelist uses under aged children to beg for alms on the street.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni

The Lagos State police have arrested a female evangelist named Lois Atinso, who allegedly engages in using little children for begging.

The suspect, whose church has not been disclosed claimed to run an orphanage at Agbede road, Ikorodu.

She was arrested on Saturday, October 29, 2016. Eleven children were reportedly rescued from her keep during the arrest.

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One of the children, Nonso gave an account of his experience, stating that the suspect made him lie to his mother.

“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, who took me to the church and handed me over to the aunty (evangelist) 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."

Atinso however refuted the claim stating that her orphanage caters for less privileged children.

“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", she said.

Fatai Owoseni, the Lagos State Police Commissioner mentioned that the evangelist was arrested when the children were found begging.

ayodele johnson