Lagos Government Arrests 107 Beggars, Suspected Miscreants in Agege and Ketu Crackdown
Story: written by Joseph March 11,2026
The Lagos State Government has arrested 107 street beggars and suspected miscreants during a coordinated enforcement operation across parts of the state, as authorities intensify efforts to curb street begging and restore order in public spaces.
The arrests were confirmed by Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, who disclosed details of the operation in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Wahab, the enforcement exercise began in Agege where officials conducting routine monitoring and compliance patrols apprehended several individuals involved in street begging.
He explained that the operation was part of the state government’s broader strategy to address growing concerns over public nuisance, street begging, and the activities of suspected miscreants in major urban areas.
“During our ongoing monitoring and enforcement patrol today, 25 beggars were arrested in Agege as part of our efforts to discourage street begging and restore sanity to public spaces,” the commissioner stated.
Following the initial arrests, the enforcement team moved to Ketu where additional suspects were apprehended during the continued patrol.
By midday, officials confirmed that a total of 107 individuals had been arrested across the two locations. Those taken into custody include 86 beggars, nine children, and 12 suspected miscreants.
Wahab said the arrested individuals would undergo proper documentation and profiling before being handed over to the appropriate government agencies for further action in accordance with existing laws and social intervention programmes.
He noted that vulnerable persons, especially children, would be assessed for possible rehabilitation and welfare support through relevant state institutions.
The commissioner also reiterated the Lagos State Government’s determination to sustain similar operations across different parts of the state in order to maintain environmental sanity, protect vulnerable residents, and improve overall public safety.
“We will continue to carry out enforcement exercises in various parts of Lagos to discourage street begging, protect vulnerable persons and ensure that our public spaces remain orderly and safe for everyone,” Wahab said.
Authorities say the ongoing campaign is part of broader urban management initiatives aimed at addressing social challenges while maintaining law and order in Africa’s largest commercial city.
