The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has raised concern over the alleged use of beggars and destitutes by criminals to transport illicit drugs and aid criminal activities in FCT.
Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, FCT Command and Control Centre, raised the alarm during the ongoing enforcement exercise in Abuja on Monday.
Olumuji said that the enforcement, under Operation Sweep FCT, was designed to remove beggars, scavengers and other destitutes from the streets of the nation’s capital.
He explained that intelligence reports indicated that criminal elements exploit physically challenged persons and street beggars as couriers for illicit substances, particularly in the night.
“Who would suspect that a physically challenged person could courier illicit drugs? But they use them to do that.
“The sad thing is that, as vulnerable as they have become, they have also become a useful tool in the hands of criminal elements,” he said.
He further revealed that some of the individuals also serve as informants for criminal gangs operating within the FCT, thereby posing additional security threats to residents.
According to him, enforcement personnel have encountered resistance during some operations, with suspects allegedly attacking officials using walking canes and other mobility aids.
He, however, assured residents that the FCTA has intensified efforts to sanitise the city and address growing public concern over street begging and insecurity.
Also speaking, the Head of FCT Enforcement, Mrs Ulkacha Adebayo, disclosed that 54 beggars and destitutes comprising 45 adults and nine children, were evacuated during Monday’s operation.
She added that the administration had so far removed a total of 889 destitutes from various parts of Abuja in the last three months.
Adebayo explained that those evacuated were being profiled and taken to government rehabilitation centres for welfare support and vocational training.
She noted that the exercise was part of ongoing efforts by the FCT Administration to maintain orderliness and improve security across the capital city.
She identified areas covered by the enforcement team as Maitama, Asokoro, Garki, Wuse and Gwarinpa, adding that the operation would continue as directed by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
