From Street To Screen: Nigerians React As Beggars Take Over TikTok

Scores of Nigerians have taken to social media to react as the clip of beggars seen appealing to people on TikTok for alms went viral.

The video which was captured during one of the beggars’ live streams went viral on Thursday has been widely discussed among Nigerians since then.

In the video, a disabled beggar leader is seen directing two others with mobility difficulties, instructing them to follow his example as he rolls on the floor and solicits donations in Hausa.

However, some Nigerians have raised questions about the authenticity of the beggars’ online appeal, suspecting that someone might be behind the account, using the disabled individuals to solicit sympathy and gifts from unsuspecting victims.

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.