Withdraw beggars arrest threat or face lawsuit, SERAP warns Wike

The Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project has urged the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to withdraw his threat to arrest beggars in the nation’s capital or face legal action.

The group, in a post on its official X handle, #SerapNigeria, on Wednesday, stated that no one should be criminalised for their socio-economic status, adding that the Minister should instead provide opportunities to help them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.

It was earlier reported that during the flag-off ceremony for access road construction in the Katampe District of the Federal Capital on Tuesday, Wike threatened a crackdown on beggars, announcing that enforcement agents would start apprehending them from Monday.

“Let me state clearly that we have declared war; Abuja is turning into a beggar city. If you know you have a sister or brother who is a beggar, please, from next week, we will take them away. It is embarrassing that people will come in and the first thing they will see are just beggars on the road.

“Sometimes, they may be criminals pretending to be beggars. We will not allow that. So, I’m giving you a public holiday from now until Sunday. From Monday, we will remove them,” he said.

However, SERAP, in its post, urged the Minister to immediately address the socio-economic rights of marginalised individuals in the FCT.

The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, must immediately withdraw his apparently unlawful threat to arrest beggars in Abuja or face legal action.

No one should be criminalised for engaging in life-sustaining economic activities or because of their economic or social status.“

Rather than arresting and cracking down on beggars, Mr Wike should provide them with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into society while respecting their dignity and human rights.

Mr Wike should immediately begin to address the root causes of poverty and the violations of the economic and social rights of particularly marginalised individuals in Abuja.

“Mr Wike must address the plight of those experiencing homelessness and those living in poverty in Abuja and not demonise and criminalise them,” the post read.