FCT police commissioner hails court ruling on scavenger crackdown, says Abuja needs renewed commitment to public safety

The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Adewale Saka Ajao, has hailed the judgment dismissing a N500 million lawsuit that had challenged the crackdown on street scavengers, beggars, and illegal traders in Abuja.

He said the court verdict is a boost to police efforts in curbing vandalism of public infrastructure.”

Recall that on July 11, 2025, the Federal High Court dismissed a N500 million lawsuit. The decision is widely viewed as a legal victory for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike.

The suit, filed by Abuja-based lawyer Abba Hikima in November 2024, sought the enforcement of fundamental rights for homeless persons, street traders, beggars, and scavengers. The Minister of the FCT, along with the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the federal government, were all named as respondents.

Hikima’s case alleged that enforcement actions carried out under the Minister’s directive (including arrests and detention) violated constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, movement, and protection from discrimination as enshrined in Sections 34, 35, 41, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution. The plaintiff had also sought N500 million in damages.

However, the Federal High Court saw the matter differently. In its ruling, the court held that granting the request would effectively turn the capital city into “a haven of all sorts of unwanted and unwholesome activities.”

The suit was dismissed, with the court siding with the position of the respondents, who argued that the individuals in question posed environmental, public health, and security risks, and that the Abuja Environmental Protection Act supported the enforcement.

This judgment came two days after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike launched ‘Operation Sweep Abuja Clean,’ a citywide exercise aimed at eliminating public nuisances and criminal hotspots.

The initiative targets scavengers, beggars, illegal street traders, and other informal actors who are often associated with “one chance” robbery syndicates and other forms of urban crime.

Wike maintained that the measures were not only legal but essential.

“Our nation’s capital should be a secured symbol of pride and beauty; not a site for street beggars and scavengers, most of whom are agents of criminal elements,” he said.

He further emphasised that the security of lives and property in the FCT remained a top priority for the administration.

Ajao, in response to the judgement said, “The judgment is a boost to police efforts to curb vandalism of public infrastructure.”

He praised the judgment for its long-term security implications.

“This move is not just about enforcement; it is about reclaiming the capital for law-abiding citizens,” he said.

“The judgment is not a personal victory for the FCT Minister, as some have claimed, but a collective gain for residents who have suffered at the hands of those hiding behind poverty to commit crimes,” the CP added.

The FCT police authorities also pointed out that the crackdown had already yielded results, adding that reports of manhole theft, a serious public hazard and economic burden, had sharply declined since the new measures took effect. The open manholes had caused numerous vehicular accidents in the past, creating both safety risks and financial costs for the government.

Security analysts also argued that the court’s ruling sent a strong message in support of urban law enforcement, given that over the years, Abuja had seen a rising tide of scavenger-related crimes, including theft of manhole covers, vandalism of public property, and increased street-level insecurity. These activities, though sometimes framed as issues of poverty and survival, had been exploited by organised criminal groups to evade detection and embed themselves within the city’s informal economy.

Indeed, while critics accused the FCTA of targeting the underprivileged, many security professionals argue that the broader public interest must take precedence. They pointed out that in global capitals, street activity is tightly controlled not out of elitism, but to ensure safety, order, and civic functionality.

There is a growing consensus that allowing unregulated scavenging and begging in Abuja, especially in key districts like the Central Area and Wuse, creates a breeding ground for crime. Scavengers often operate without identification, move in groups, and are difficult to monitor. Some are connected to cartels that traffic in stolen items, while others function as informants for armed robbery operations. Removing them from the streets, proponents argue, helps limit their capacity to cause harm.

The judgment also clarifies the legal scope of the Abuja Environmental Protection Act, affirming the government’s authority to maintain public hygiene and prevent environmental degradation. By empowering FCTA officials to act decisively, the court has effectively strengthened the hand of those tasked with safeguarding the capital’s infrastructure and security.

Wike’s initiative also includes the relocation of those deemed vulnerable to state authorities, where social support can be better structured. This measure, according to FCTA officials, ensures that enforcement is not simply punitive, but is tied to broader rehabilitation and social management strategies.

According to the FCT Commissioner of Police, the court’s decision, and the broader policy it supports, may not please everyone, but from a security standpoint, “it offers something Abuja has needed for years: clarity, authority, and a renewed commitment to public safety.”