Lagos to repatriate 226 beggars arrested in statewide raid

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State, Tokunbo Wahab, has disclosed that the 226 beggars arrested during a statewide enforcement exercise on Thursday will be repatriated to their various states of origin.

The individuals were apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps during a coordinated operation carried out across different parts of the state.

In a statement issued after the exercise, Wahab explained that the operation formed part of the state government’s ongoing environmental clean-up and enforcement campaign aimed at enhancing public safety and maintaining environmental sanity.

According to him, the exercise specifically targeted street begging activities, which he said contribute to environmental pollution and constitute a public nuisance in the state.

“In continuation of the ongoing daily clean-up and enforcement exercise across Lagos State, a total of 226 beggars were apprehended today,” the commissioner stated.

He noted that the enforcement exercise was jointly conducted by the two agencies and added that those arrested would first undergo proper profiling and documentation before being relocated to their respective home states.

Wahab reaffirmed the commitment of the Lagos State Government to sustaining enforcement and environmental sanitation operations across the state.

He added that the initiative was part of broader efforts to promote a cleaner, safer and more orderly environment for residents and visitors.