VIDEO: Lagos arrests 226 beggars in fresh clampdown

The Lagos State Government has intensified its campaign against street begging, apprehending 226 individuals in a recent enforcement exercise across the state. The operation, conducted by a joint team from the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, is part of sustained efforts to enhance public safety and maintain a cleaner, more orderly environment.

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In continuation of the ongoing daily clean-up and enforcement exercise across the State, a total of 226 beggars were apprehended earlier today by a joint team comprising the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps.

Tokunbo Wahab, the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, announced the arrests on his official X account. He stated that the apprehended beggars would undergo profiling and documentation before being returned to their respective states of origin, adhering to established government procedures and policies.

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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.

This latest action follows previous enforcement operations targeting street begging in Lagos. In early June, over 140 people were arrested in areas like Oshodi, Agege, and CMS. Authorities have previously expressed concerns about beggars occupying public spaces, including pedestrian bridges, citing potential security and safety risks for residents. Officials describe these exercises as routine measures to enforce discipline and maintain public order within the state.

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I’ll call it routine. It is part of our efforts to enforce discipline and maintain order in the state.