The lawsuit, filed by human rights lawyer Abba Hikima on behalf of the residents, alleges that recent actions by the minister and security forces have led to arbitrary arrests, harassment, and detentions of some of the most vulnerable members of society. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1749/2024, was submitted before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Hikima explained that the legal action was initiated to address the plight of citizens who often live on the margins of society, facing daily struggles for survival. According to him, the respondents include the Minister, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Government.

The lawyer recounted witnessing a disturbing incident on the night of November 12, 2024. He said he observed security operatives forcefully arresting individuals perceived to be homeless, including hawkers, petty traders, and beggars, near Ahmadu Bello Way in Abuja. “These people were subjected to verbal harassment and physical threats in full view of passersby,” Hikima said, describing the scene as deeply unsettling.

He followed the convoy of security operatives to Eagle Square, where the detainees were reportedly held. Over the following days, he reached out to some of those affected, recording their stories to ensure they would have a voice in court. Among them were Abdullatif Shehu, Hajiya Talatu Danladi, and Judith Samuel, who recounted how they were apprehended while trying to earn a living or simply seeking shelter.

In the suit, Hikima is asking the court to declare that the treatment of these individuals is a violation of their constitutionally guaranteed rights, including the right to dignity, freedom of movement, and protection from discrimination. He also urged the court to order the respondents to issue a public apology and implement reforms to protect the rights of vulnerable Nigerians.

The legal action highlights the difficult realities faced by many in the FCT. “It is not a crime to be homeless or to engage in petty trading,” Hikima said, emphasizing that the conditions leading to such circumstances often stem from harsh government policies and systemic failures to provide adequate support for vulnerable citizens.

When the matter came before the court, it was revealed that while the Department of State Services had responded with a counter-affidavit, representatives for the minister, the police, and other government agencies were absent. Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to February 4, 2025, and directed that notices be served to all respondents.

For those involved, the case is not just about financial compensation but about accountability and recognition of their dignity as human beings.

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City & Crime reports that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had directed officials of the administration to carry out what he called a total sanitation of the nation’s capital.

He had earlier given beggars in particular up to last Sunday to vacate Abuja streets or risk arrest.

City & Crime reports that the clamp down on the beggars, scavengers and others started on Monday in the operation that the officials said would last for two weeks.

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But reacting to the exercise yesterday, some beggars, particularly those with disabilities, protested the clampdown, voicing their concerns during a visit to the head office of Media Trust Group, publishers of the Trust Newspaper titles, Trust TV, and Trust Radio.

They came under the umbrella of Arewa Freedom of the Blind Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Abuja chapter.

Auwal I. Alhassan, who spoke on their behalf, criticised the FCTA for not engaging with them or addressing their grievances prior to the eviction order.

He stated, “If you want to remove someone from the street, you should communicate your intentions clearly, especially to those of us with disabilities. Some of us had jobs before, but it was the same government that laid us off. Now, they are flushing us out without providing proper shelter. Are we not Nigerians? We have equal rights to life.”

He further noted that aside from the SERAP, no NGOs, civil society organisations, or religious groups had come to their aid.

Alhassan claimed that those arrested were living in deplorable conditions at the FCT Rehabilitation Centre in Bwari, lacking food, water, and medical care.

“They chased us as if we were chickens. Over 200 of our members have been arrested and locked up at the rehabilitation centre. We have a constitutional right to live freely anywhere we choose.

“Many of us are graduates and NCE holders, yet the government fails to provide us with jobs, treating us as if we are expendable. Meanwhile, bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers operate with impunity. It’s alarming that the enforcement team included military personnel who should be combating the real insecurity plaguing our country,” he said.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a crackdown on beggars in Abuja, citing concerns over the security risks they pose and the negative impact on the city’s image.

 

Wike made this declaration during the commencement of the construction of an access road from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway to the Judges’ Quarters in Katampe District, Abuja, on Tuesday.

 

He expressed dissatisfaction with the growing number of beggars in the city, stating that Abuja is in danger of becoming a “beggars’ city.” Wike urged residents to take responsibility for their family members who beg on the streets, warning that authorities would begin removing beggars from the city starting next week.

 

“We have declared war on beggars because Abuja is returning to a beggar’s city. If you know you have a sister or brother who begs on the road, do something because from next week, we will take them out of the city. It is embarrassing that the first thing people see when they enter Abuja are beggars,” Wike stated.

 

The minister also highlighted that some of the individuals posing as beggars might be criminals. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the security of the city, explaining that beggars could be informants for criminals, which poses a threat to residents’ safety.

 

“We will not allow this to continue. By Monday, we will start removing them. We are fighting insecurity, and some of these beggars may be part of the problem,” he added.

 

Wike acknowledged that not everyone would be pleased with the decision, but stressed that the move was essential for the overall well-being of Abuja’s residents, allowing them to feel secure in their homes.

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