Grandmother Begs For Food With 2 Sets Of Twins And Triplets

Hard times is seriously hitting on some Nigerians, and even beggars hardly get alms. Sadly in a country where some have excess, the majority live in penury. It was indeed a sore sight when residents in Ibadan found a grandmother and her seven grandchildren roaming the streets in search of food.

Recently, an old woman was intercepted by a patrol vehicle of the police command after members of the public raised the alarm that she could be involved in child trafficking or kidnapping.

With her were children whose age range between three and seven; as they are a set of triplet and two sets of twins.

Sadly, the children's father who was the breadwinner passed on last year, while their physically challenged mother works as dish washer at a local canteen in the city, so the woman was left with no choice than to go begging to feed her grandchildren.

The Oyo State Police Command however came to the aid of a 75-year-old granny and her seven grandchildren found roaming . The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, revealed that after investigations, it was discovered that the woman was looking for how to feed the seven children.

He said, “We were able to find the mother and realise the connection with the old woman. She is the grandmother of the children and at the time the police intercepted her, she was in a process of going to a media house with a view to soliciting for funds for the upkeep of the children. 

This is a sad situation but the state police command, as part of its responsibility to the people, has provided some food stuffs and other items to help save the family. It is a contribution we have to make.”

However, two bags of rice, a bag of beans, several loaves of bread and other items were donated to the family.

The grandmother, Tutu Awoniyi, said she lived in a rented apartment in Gbagi area of Ibadan and that her last son, Olusola, was the father of the children.

She said, “I went to solicit for assistance from someone in Basorun area but I got nothing. I had no money for transport fare so I decided to trek with the seven children back home. That was when the police approached me, thinking that I stole the children.

“My son, who is their father, is dead and their mother is struggling. I don’t want hunger to take these children away from me.”

The mother of the children, Kafayat, 30, also shared that her husband died last year and that she and the children lived with the grandmother.

She said, “I live in Alabebe in Ibadan where I also work at a local restaurant until I fell ill and lose the job. I could not go to see my children for two months and I had no money to go to hospital. I only took herbs. Mama is my in-law.”