Underage children arrested during recent anti-begging operations across Lagos State have been transferred to government-run homes and shelters, where they
will receive care,
protection and rehabilitation services.
Commissioner for the
Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed the development on
Wednesday, hours after authorities apprehended 45 beggars,
including adults and
minors, during enforcement operations in Oshodi, Agege and CMS.
According to Wahab, the
children have been profiled and handed over to the Ministry of Youth and Social
Development for onward placement in facilities
established by the
state government.
“The underage children
picked up statewide for begging on our roads have been properly profiled and
handed over to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development
for onward placement in
the homes and shelters provided by the State Government, where they will
receive the necessary care, protection and support,” he
said.
The government had
earlier announced the arrest of 45 beggars during separate operations across
major commercial districts of Lagos.
The arrests included 22
persons picked up in Oshodi and Agege, as well as 23 others, comprising 14
adults and nine children, apprehended around the CMS
axis.
Wahab said adult
beggars arrested during the exercise were handed over to relevant authorities
for further action in line with existing laws and government
policies.
“The adult beggars are
also being handed over to the appropriate authorities for further necessary
action in line with existing laws and government policies,”
he added.
The latest operation
forms part of a broader enforcement drive by the Lagos State Government aimed
at addressing street begging, environmental violations
and other forms of
public nuisance.
Last month, the state
disclosed that it had made 10,634 arrests over the past year for various
environmental offences.
According to government
figures, 5,715 persons were arrested for illegal highway crossing, while 3,886
others were apprehended for offences including street
trading, cart pushing
and environmental pollution.
Authorities also
reported the arrest of 102 persons for open defecation and 931 others for waste
management-related offences.
State officials have
maintained that the enforcement campaign is intended not only to improve
environmental compliance but also to identify vulnerable
persons in need of
social intervention and rehabilitation.
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