Fresh security concerns and a surge in the number of beggars across Lagos have prompted the state government to intensify its crackdown on street beggars in an ongoing statewide enforcement operation, Saturday PUNCH can report.
In one of the largest operations in recent times, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force, in conjunction with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, arrested 226 beggars on June 8 as part of a renewed daily enforcement exercise.
Our correspondent gathered that the intensified raids were driven by growing concerns over insecurity in the country, increasing complaints from residents and the rising influx of street beggars into different parts of the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, had, in a statement confirming the arrests, described the exercise as part of the state’s ongoing clean-up and enforcement operation aimed at improving public safety and maintaining environmental standards.
He said street begging had continued to constitute an environmental nuisance and contribute to the degradation of public spaces.
