‎Lagos Arrests 226 Street Beggars in Renewed Crackdown on Public Nuisance

The Lagos State Government has intensified its campaign against street begging and other environmental offences, arresting 226 suspected street beggars during a coordinated enforcement operation across parts of the state.
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‎The operation, carried out on Thursday by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), forms part of ongoing efforts to restore order and address public nuisance in the state’s urban centres.
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‎Announcing the development via his official X account, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the arrested individuals would undergo profiling before being repatriated to their respective states of origin. He added that vulnerable persons identified during the exercise would be referred to appropriate social welfare agencies for rehabilitation and support.
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‎According to Wahab, the enforcement drive aligns with the state’s long-standing policy against street begging, which authorities say contributes to the misuse of public spaces and poses potential security concerns.
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‎The latest arrests come barely weeks after state authorities apprehended more than 140 street beggars and related offenders in a similar operation conducted in early June, underscoring the government’s determination to rid major roads and public areas of activities considered disruptive.
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Picture of Victims

‎The renewed crackdown has generated mixed reactions among residents. While some have welcomed the move as a necessary step toward maintaining public order and improving the city’s image, others argue that enforcement alone cannot address the underlying causes of street begging, including poverty, unemployment and inadequate social support systems.
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‎State officials, however, maintain that the exercise will continue as part of broader efforts to ensure a cleaner, safer and more organised Lagos.