The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has ordered a thorough cleanup of Abuja and its satellite towns, directing the removal of street beggars, traders, “one-chance” syndicates, scavengers, and other social nuisances.
The Minister announced, in a statement given to Persecondnews on Wednesday by Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant for Public Communications and Social Media, that an operation code-named “Operation Sweep Abuja of miscreants, street beggars/traders, scavengers and other criminal elements” is now underway in the FCT.
The statement reads: “In line with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act, and other relevant laws, the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike has directed the immediate evacuation of miscreants, street beggars and traders, scavengers and other criminal elements from the FCT.
“Our nation’s capital should be a secured symbol of pride and beauty, not a site for street beggars and scavengers, most of whom are agents of criminal elements.
“To achieve this, a Joint Task Force, comprising security agencies and relevant FCT SDAs have been deployed to apprehend any persons found begging, scavenging, loitering or engaging in other acts inimical to the well-being of the residents.
“Arrangements have been made to profile them and hand them over to their home state governments.
“Security of lives and properties of residents of the FCT is of paramount importance to the government, we must all join hands to achieve a safer Abuja.
“Security is my job, your job and our job. Report suspicious movement to 08061581938 and 08032003913.”
This is not the first time the Minister has declared war on street beggars and other miscreants in Abuja.
Persecondnews recalls that on October 22, 2024, Wike declared war on street beggars, expressing concern over their growing numbers and noting that criminal elements were exploiting this by disguising as beggars, thereby complicating security efforts.
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