The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the rising population of scavengers, beggars, and homeless people in the FCT constitutes a serious security threat to the city and its residents.
Wike stated this in a counter-affidavit filed before Justice James Omotosho in opposition to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against him and five other government officials and agencies.
The minister asked the court to dismiss the suit seeking N500m in damages.
The suit, instituted by human rights lawyer Abba Hikima on behalf of unnamed vulnerable residents, also lists the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and the Federal Government of Nigeria as co-respondents.
According to the counter affidavit deposed to by Saidu Abdulkadir, a legal officer at the FCTA’s Legal Services Secretariat, begging is not a trade recognised by Nigerian law.
Wike further argued that the presence of the homeless and scavengers, who he claims often set up makeshift shelters, urinate and defecate in the open, and violate the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Act, 1997, threatens public health and violates the Abuja Master Plan.
“The overwhelming presence of street beggars and hawkers within the FCT/City Centre defaces and degrades the serenity of the area and also poses a great security threat,” the affidavit states.
Wike maintained that many scavengers arrested in the city were found vandalising both public and private properties and acting as informants for kidnappers and terrorist organisations.
He added that the Social Development Secretariat of the FCTA had established skill acquisition programmes at the FCT Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre in Bwari to assist vulnerable people, but many have refused to take advantage of the initiative.
Despite this, he said, his administration remains committed to rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, even as he insisted that “begging is not a trade known to law.”
On allegations of rights violations, Wike denied any wrongdoing. He argued that the three individuals Hikima claimed to be representing—Abdullatif Shehu, Hajiya Talatu Danladi, and Judith Samuel—were faceless and that no concrete evidence had been presented to support claims of maltreatment or illegal detention.
“The claim of the applicant that he witnessed the maltreatment and extortion of the three individuals… is merely a figment of his imagination,” the minister said.
Similarly, the DSS, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by its operative Musa Usman, denied carrying out any arrest or participating in a joint security operation on November 12, 2024, as alleged by the applicant.
The DSS emphasised that its operations are not carried out at the behest of the FCT minister and that it adheres to global best practices and the rule of law.
The NSCDC, in its filing sworn to by Goodness Akomolafe, also denied violating any fundamental rights. The AGF, through a separate counter-affidavit, urged the court to reject the reliefs sought by the applicant.
In his originating motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1749/2024, Hikima is asking the court to declare that the arrest, detention, harassment, and extortion of homeless persons, beggars, scavengers, and petty traders constitute violations of their rights under Sections 34, 35, 41, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He is also seeking:
A declaration that the treatment of vulnerable citizens by security agencies amounts to inhumane and degrading treatment.
An order mandating public apologies from the respondents.
A directive for the implementation of policies and public education aimed at promoting the rights of vulnerable Nigerians.
And N500 million in general and exemplary damages.
According to Hikima, the affected persons were arbitrarily arrested by a joint security task force on November 12, 2024, under a directive allegedly issued by Wike on October 22, 2024.
He narrated that those arrested were hawkers, petty traders, and individuals whose appearances reflected economic hardship. He trailed the task force to Eagle Square and later met with some of the victims.
He argued that homelessness, begging, or engaging in petty trade is not a crime and that these conditions are the result of the government’s failure to provide adequate social welfare and economic support.
Justice Omotosho has not yet fixed a date for ruling on the matter.
