No be small matter o! For the heart of Abuja, dem don gather 607 beggars and mentally challenged people come out from street since July 2025. Na Mrs. Ukachi Adebayo, wey be head of Enforcement for FCT Social Development Secretariat, carry this news come give us for interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.
Adebayo talk say out of the 607 wey dem carry come, 583 na beggars while 23 dey among dem wey get mental issues. She add say dem no just carry them waka go, but dem don counsel and profile them first. After e, dem take dem go their various states with the help of state governments.
She no lie when she talk say many of dem dey come back once dem don remove them. E be like say na wahala wey no go end soon, because as dem dey carry dem go, new ones dey show face. She say plenty of dem run enter Abuja because of the wahala wey dey their states. “We go still dey do this operation,” she clarify.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Gloria Onwuka, wey be acting director of Social Welfare, come yarn say some children wey dey beg for street no even know wetin dey happen—some people go just carry dem from different states come Abuja to dey beg and bring the money come give dem. Na wah o! She explain say some women wey dey beg with children no even be their pikin. Na serious business dis begging don turn to.
“E get as e be; dem dey hire children and carry dem come Abuja to fit make money, while the families no even sabi unless dem go find dem,” she talk. Na plenty of them dem don catch like dis too.
Dr. Peter Olumuji, wey be Secretary of FCTA Command and Control Centre, come add his voice too. He talk say Operation Sweep no be small security matter—na collaboration of all security agencies and departments dem set up. Na FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, start am to clean Abuja from beggars, miscreants, and other criminal elements. Wike say beggars dey pose security threat and make the city look bad, and some of dem even dey work with criminals.
“E no just end for the dirty wey dem dey cause, dem dey put body for kidnapping matter too,” he talk. He reiterate say the operation go continue to brush away any miscreant wey wan show face.
NAN also remind us say for October 2024, Wike don already declare war against beggars for Abuja. He say Abuja no suppose turn to beggars’ city like dis. “If you get anybody wey dey beg for road, do something because we go collect dem from next week,” he warn.
Wike drop another bombshell when e talk say some people wey dey pretend say dem be beggars fit actually be criminals wey wan steal your joy. “We no go allow dat,” him yarn. E talk all dis things just to make sure that Abuja go remain safe and make people fit sleep with their two eyes closed.
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