Beggars go digital, takes to TikTok for alms

Nigerians are already responding to the TikTok video showing beggars pleading for money on social media.

Nigerians have been talking about the video, which was created from one of the beggars’ live performances, since it went viral on Thursday.

The primary beggar in the video, who looked to be crippled, led two other people who were also barely able to move.

On the app, he was shown writhing on the ground and pleading in Hausa for gifts.

Some Nigerians, dissatisfied with their actions, have questioned whether someone was behind the account opening and was taking advantage of their gullible victims to obtain presents and sympathy.

D great Bundee, a user who tweeted on X with the handle #greatbundee, said, “Definitely a syndicate using handicaps to exploit people.”

Another user who tweeted anonymously as #Ojamzey said, “This is corporate begging.”

On X.com, a user #nanaquophie121 opined, “Top business strategy. Open a TikTok account for the disable. Let them go live and boom 60-40!”

A user on Facebook with the name Techy tech wrote, “All business Dey online now na, wetin Una Dey expect, don’t be surprise say den get manager.”

Another Facebook user, Punterian, said, “The ones that don’t need help are getting gifts, why won’t they get involved & benefit when na them be the actual beggars.”

“When they found out that the ones that don’t need help were gifted… so those who needed help had to step up,” Sperotti, a user on X, said.

“At this point, it’s clear it’s an organised crime,” Rocky Amartey said on Instagram.