The Federal Capital Territory Administration has cleared 607 beggars and mentally challenged persons from streets across Abuja between July 2025 and January 2026 as part of an ongoing city sanitation and security exercise.
The Head of Enforcement at the FCT Social Development Secretariat, Ukachi Adebayo, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday. She said the operation was carried out by the Operation Sweep Abuja Clean team, which works to remove street beggars and other vulnerable persons from public spaces.
According to her, 583 of those evacuated were beggars, while 23 were persons living with mental health conditions. She explained that after being picked up, the individuals were counselled and documented before being taken to their respective state liaison offices. From there, they were returned to their states of origin in collaboration with state governments for rehabilitation.
Adebayo noted that many of those removed often return to the streets after evacuation, adding that insecurity in some states had pushed several people to seek refuge in Abuja. She said the exercise would continue despite the repeated return of beggars to the city.
Also speaking, the Acting Director of Social Welfare at the secretariat, Gloria Onwuka, said investigations showed that some children seen begging were brought in from other states by unknown persons. She added that some women arrested while begging with children were not the biological mothers of those children.
She explained that begging had become organised, with some individuals transporting children early in the morning to Abuja to beg and later collect the money made. She added that many families were unaware that their children were being used for such activities.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the FCTA Command and Control Centre, Peter Olumuji, said Operation Sweep was a joint security effort involving several agencies and departments in the FCT. He stated that the initiative was approved by the FCT Minister to rid the city of beggars, scavengers and criminal elements.
Olumuji said street begging posed security risks, noting that some beggars act as informants for criminals, while others become victims of crime. He added that the operation would remain active to ensure Abuja remains safe and orderly.
The FCT Minister had earlier declared a crackdown on street begging in October 2024, citing concerns over security and the growing presence of beggars in the nation’s capital.
CLICK THE LINK TO READ FULL LIST
- Advertisement -
Comments are closed.