No fewer than 226 street beggars were apprehended during a joint operation by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps as part of efforts to curb street begging and restore order across the metropolis.
The arrests, carried out across different parts of the state, form part of the government’s ongoing efforts to maintain environmental cleanliness, enhance public safety, and ensure a more orderly Lagos.
The Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the development in a post shared on his social media handle on Friday, stating that the suspects were arrested while allegedly soliciting alms on bridges, which he described as an unlawful act.
He added that the operation is part of the continuous daily clean-up and enforcement exercise being carried out across the state.
“The apprehended individuals will undergo proper profiling and documentation before being repatriated to their respective states of origin in accordance with established procedures and relevant government policies,”he disclosed.
The commissioner further stated that the government will continue to enforce the law against street begging while collaborating with social welfare agencies to provide rehabilitation and support where necessary.
“We will continue to enforce the law while working with the appropriate social welfare agencies to ensure rehabilitation where necessary. Lagos must remain safe, clean, and orderly for all who live and work here.