Daniel Otera
The Federal Capital Territory Administration’s mass arrest of beggars and street children has stirred strong public reaction across Nigeria, as citizens question the morality, legality, and long-term implications of the operation. While authorities describe the action as part of a broader campaign to sanitise Abuja, critics argue it reflects deeper concerns around inequality, child trafficking, and inconsistent governance priorities.
Since the launch of Operation Sweep Abuja on Monday, the FCTA has arrested 210 individuals, including 72 children, across key locations such as Wuse, Garki, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Kubwa. The operation also targeted scavengers, roadside traders, and individuals suspected to be part of criminal groups.
“They have been taken to Bwari Rehabilitation Centre and are being profiled,” said Gloria Onwuka, Acting Director of Social Welfare at the FCTA’s Social Development Secretariat. “Many of the children were not with their real mothers. Some were trafficked from Kano and Katsina to beg in Abuja.”
The FCTA’s official breakdown shows that 80 were adult males, 58 were adult females, and 72 were children meaning that children accounted for over 34 percent of those apprehended. This has raised serious concerns about child protection protocols and the fate of these minors once taken off the streets.
Rights organisations have previously warned against street sweeps conducted without proper follow-up welfare systems. In earlier reports, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) noted that arresting vulnerable populations without adequate support could constitute a violation of their fundamental rights, particularly in relation to children.
Several citizens questioned the legality of the FCTA’s plan to deport the beggars to their so-called states of origin, pointing to the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement and residence.
“Deport them to where, Chad, Kano or Katsina?” asked a user on X, @oyinkpo. “If a government can rehabilitate Boko Haram terrorists and empower them, what stops them from rehabilitating beggars? What message are these guys sending to citizens?”
Another user, @jebreelkatalyst, added:
“Are they foreigners? The Federal Government should just enact a law and ban that act but make sure all the necessary things are in place to cater for the destitute and orphans who genuinely need help.”
FCTA officials insist that the sweep is not merely a response to public nuisance, but to an organised network of exploitation involving children.
“We have caught so many of them like that,” Mrs Onwuka said. “One woman claimed to have cancer and bandaged her breast. When we checked, there was nothing wrong with her.”
She explained that some women go as far as hiring children from rural families to accompany them while begging, often under false pretences.
An NGO worker in Nyanya, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Journal that cases of trafficked children being forced into street begging have been on the rise in the past year.
“They’re not criminals. They’re victims of poverty, broken systems, and desperation. The question is: after arresting them, what next?” she asked.
The Child Rights Act, which was domesticated by the Federal Capital Territory in 2003, mandates that vulnerable children be protected, rehabilitated, and supported, not criminalised. The Act aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and outlines the government’s duty to ensure proper care for children found in exploitative or dangerous situations.
Despite this, the FCTA has not yet announced any structured rehabilitation or long-term support plan for the 72 children apprehended. Observers warn that this gap could amount to a breach of both domestic and international legal obligations.
“The right approach is to trace their families, provide shelter and education, not push them further into trauma,” said a woman and child rights advocate based in Abuja.
According to UNICEF, over 18.3 million children are currently out of school in Nigeria with the highest numbers concentrated in the northern region. This figure represents a sharp rise from the previous 13.2 million recorded by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The issue extends beyond schooling. A 2022 Child Labour Survey conducted by the NBS in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) found that 39.2% of Nigerian children aged 5–17 are engaged in child labour. Many of them participate in informal street work such as hawking or begging to support family incomes.
Further findings from the report revealed that 1 in 5 urban children engage in survival-based street activities often outside any formal protection or education system.
While some residents applauded the FCTA’s move, others questioned whether simply removing people from public view addresses the root causes of poverty and exploitation.
“They should be deported to their respective communities. This is well commendable,” said Major General Bazo, reacting in support of the sweep.
However, many others expressed concern that the government was attempting to address a social issue through law enforcement alone.
“You can’t sweep poverty away with patrol vans,” said Fatima Idris, a resident of Abuja. “The real work is lifting people out of poverty, not hiding them from the eyes of VIPs.”
Minister Nyesom Wike has repeatedly emphasised his commitment to restoring order in the capital. As part of this directive, he empowered a joint task force to implement Operation Sweep Abuja, targeting street beggars, traders, scavengers, and suspected criminal syndicates across the city.
“Abuja is not for scavengers or street beggars. We must restore the city to order,” the minister was quoted as saying during a security meeting, according to a report by Daily Post Nigeria.
While the government frames the action as a necessary move to sanitise the city, human rights advocates continue to call for a shift from punitive enforcement to sustainable social intervention particularly in addressing the plight of children.