Reaction as 210 beggars sends are to rehab by FCTA

 Reaction as 210 beggars sends are to rehab by FCTA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Social Development Secretariat, has apprehended 210 beggars suspected of involvement in criminal activities throughout Abuja.

On Thursday, July 10, Gloria Onwuka, the Acting Director of the Social Welfare Department, announced this while presenting the detained individuals at the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre located in the Bwari area of the FCT.

According to Onwuka, these arrests were part of the ongoing initiative called ‘Operation Sweep Abuja Clean’. She disclosed that among those arrested were 58 women, 72 children, and 80 men.

This crackdown was initiated in response to public concerns regarding increasing criminal activities, leading FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to order intensified operations against individuals without known residences.

Onwuka stated, “Every day, we receive complaints about various issues, including ‘one-chance’ scams, kidnappings, and other criminal activities in the FCT. Therefore, the minister directed us to eliminate these problems.”

She further explained that many beggars have resorted to hiring children to beg on the streets, often without the families being aware of this exploitation.

“They have turned it into a business. They hire individuals from other states, transport them to Abuja early in the morning to beg, and then disappear by evening,” she added.

In one instance, a woman claimed to have breast cancer, but upon examination, there were no visible wounds.

Regarding the ‘one-chance’ scams, she mentioned an incident where a suspect was apprehended around 2 AM while armed with a machete and various bank ATMs. The suspect would ask victims for their bank details, threatening them with violence if they failed to comply.

Since the operation began, 80 men, 58 women, and 72 children have been arrested, and the initiative will continue until the streets of Abuja are free of beggars.

On security matters, Adamu Gwary, the Director of the FCTA Security Services, indicated that those arrested were involved in various criminal activities within the territory.

Represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, Gwary noted that the actions of these beggars have posed a significant threat to the safety of residents.

He stated, “We believe that most of those arrested have engaged in criminal activities in the nation’s capital. The security concerns posed by these nuisances have become a major worry for residents, and the Minister has instructed the Commissioner of Police and other relevant agencies to ensure that the FCT is rid of these security threats.”