The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has detained 210 individuals, including street beggars, scavengers, and suspected criminals, as part of its newly launched “Operation Sweep Abuja” initiative.
Among those apprehended are 80 men, 58 women, and 72 children currently held at a Bwari rehabilitation centre, while suspected criminals have been transferred to police custody.
Mrs. Gloria Onwuka, Acting Director of Social Welfare at the FCTA’s Social Development Secretariat, revealed disturbing details about organised begging rings during a Thursday briefing.
Investigations uncovered that syndicates transport children from states like Kano and Katsina to beg on Abuja streets, with profits being remitted to handlers. “These children are essentially rented from unsuspecting families who have no idea their children are being exploited for alms,” Onwuka explained.
Authorities also exposed sophisticated deception tactics, including beggars feigning injuries with bandages. One notable case involved a woman who falsely claimed to have breast cancer, with medical checks revealing no actual wounds.
“This has become a calculated business venture rather than genuine need,” Onwuka noted, emphasising that profiled children would be repatriated to their states of origin.
The operation forms part of broader efforts to sanitise the capital city and address security concerns, particularly regarding “one-chance” robbery gangs and illegal scavenging activities.
While the FCTA maintains its rehabilitation approach for genuine cases, the crackdown signals stricter enforcement against urban disorder and criminal elements disguising themselves as beggars. The administration warns residents against patronising street beggars, as this inadvertently sustains criminal enterprises exploiting vulnerable populations.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
