Olatunji Disu, federal capital territory (FCT) police commissioner, says 15 beggars and 19 scavengers have been arrested from the streets of Abuja, the nation’s capital.
On October 22, Nyesom Wike, FCT minister, read a riot act to beggars and scavengers, describing their presence as “embarrassing”.
He ordered their evacuation from the nation’s capital within a week.
The FCT minister said the situation was a security threat, noting that the beggars could be criminals and “informants” in disguise.
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Speaking on Monday after the operation, Disu said the arrest was in line with directives from the FCT minister.
He said the operation was carried out by a combined team of the police, military, Department of Security Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other paramilitary agencies.
The police commissioner noted that a strategic review and revitalisation would follow the two-week clampdown.
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Adamu Gwary, the DSS director in the FCT, said the operation would be conducted day and night to achieve the desired results.
Gwary, represented by Peter Olumuji, secretary of command and control, said beggars and scavengers were arrested at various locations, including Airport road, Kubwa, Gwarimpa, Dei Dei, Asokoro, AYA, Nyanya, Karu, and Jikwoyi.
On his part, Kaka Bello, head of enforcement at Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), said the operation aims to sanitise the city, adding that roadside traders and illegal technicians would also be relocated.
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