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The Lagos State Government has apprehended 396 beggars in a crackdown to curb illegal activities across the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post shared on X on Tuesday
According to Wahab, the arrests were carried out by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as the KAI Corps, as part of the government’s ongoing environmental enforcement campaign.
“A total of 396 beggars were apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps as part of the Lagos State Government’s sustained efforts to sanitize the state and curb illegal activities,” Wahab wrote.
He said the apprehended individuals would undergo profiling before receiving necessary assistance and being transferred to the appropriate authorities.
Wahab added that the exercise reflects the state government’s commitment to public safety and environmental management.
The latest operation is part of a series of enforcement exercises by the Lagos State Government targeting street begging, illegal street trading, environmental infractions and other activities it says contribute to public disorder.
A total of 396 beggars were apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps as part of the Lagos State Government’s sustained efforts to sanitize the state and curb illegal activities.
The apprehended individuals will be profiled, provided with… pic.twitter.com/Fnafe2yRaZ
— Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab) July 7, 2026
State authorities have consistently maintained that individuals found begging on major roads, bridges and other public spaces will be profiled and, where applicable, reunited with their states of origin through the relevant government agencies.
However, previous crackdowns on street begging have attracted criticism from some rights advocates, who argue that enforcement should be complemented by stronger social welfare measures to address the poverty and vulnerability driving people onto the streets.
