Leaders in Kumi Municipality have expressed growing concern over the increasing number of children living and working on the streets, warning that the situation poses serious social, safety, and developmental risks if not addressed promptly.
Local authorities say more than 30 children are currently roaming trading centers and busy streets within the municipality, surviving by collecting and selling scrap materials and engaging in informal street activities to meet their daily needs.
According to Akol Felix, the LC1 Chairperson of Bazar Cell, many of the children come from nearby villages and spend most of their days scavenging for metal scraps and plastic bottles.
“Some of these children pick scrap for survival, but others end up engaging in undesirable activities such as smoking marijuana, which exposes them to further criminal behavior,” Felix said.
Rising Vulnerability and Exploitation
Felix noted that life on the streets leaves the children vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation by adults with criminal intent. He revealed that there are increasing reports of individuals using street children to carry out theft and other illegal activities within residential areas.
“These children are easily influenced. Some people are using them to steal property from residents because they know they are desperate,” he added.
Parental Neglect Blamed
The local leader partly blamed the growing crisis on parental neglect, saying some parents fail to provide adequate supervision and care.
He explained that in some cases, parents reportedly leave their children unattended at home while they go out drinking alcohol, forcing the children to fend for themselves.
“As parents abandon their responsibilities, children are left without care and eventually resort to life on the streets in town,” Felix said.
He urged parents and guardians to take full responsibility for their children’s upbringing and ensure they remain in school and safe environments.
Education Seen as Key Solution
Meanwhile, Richard Ochom, the Mayor of Kumi Municipality, attributed the rise in street children to failure by some families to prioritize education.
The mayor emphasized that keeping children in school is one of the most effective ways to prevent them from ending up on the streets.
“When children are not in school, they become idle and vulnerable. Education is the foundation for a better future, and parents must make it a priority,” Ochom said.
Call for Community Action
Municipal leaders are now calling for a coordinated response involving parents, local leaders, schools, and law enforcement to identify affected children and support their reintegration into families and classrooms.
They say community sensitization, stronger parental responsibility, and child protection measures will be critical in addressing the growing challenge.
With Kumi Municipality continuing to expand, authorities warn that failure to act quickly could worsen the situation, affecting security, public order, and the wellbeing of children across the area.
