“They hide drugs inside bowls and bags” — FCTA raises alarm over beggars in Abuja crime rings

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has sounded a fresh warning over what it described as the growing use of beggars and destitute persons by criminal syndicates to transport illicit drugs and carry out suspicious activities across Abuja, raising fears among residents over worsening insecurity in parts of the nation’s capital.

Officials of the administration said the disturbing trend was uncovered during recent security operations and raids carried out in different parts of the city, where several individuals posing as homeless persons or street beggars were allegedly found in possession of substances suspected to be illegal drugs.

According to authorities, investigations revealed that some criminal groups now exploit vulnerable people on the streets to move narcotics from one location to another without attracting suspicion from security operatives...READ FULL STORY; FROM THE SOURCE.

The development has sparked renewed debate about the rising number of beggars, scavengers, and displaced persons occupying major roads, bridges, markets, and traffic intersections in Abuja. While many residents see them as harmless people struggling to survive amid the harsh economy, security agencies now fear that criminal networks may be hiding behind the humanitarian crisis to expand illegal operations within the city.

Speaking during a recent enforcement exercise, officials of the FCTA explained that intelligence gathered over time showed that some syndicates deliberately recruit beggars because they are less likely to be stopped or searched. The administration claimed that drugs are often concealed inside food containers, nylon bags, wheelbarrows, dirty clothing, and personal belongings carried around the city daily by street dwellers.

One official involved in the operation alleged that some suspects confessed to being paid small amounts of money to deliver suspicious packages to unknown individuals in different districts of Abuja. Authorities said the method has become attractive to traffickers because it helps them avoid direct contact with law enforcement agencies.

Residents around busy areas such as Wuse, Area 1, Garki, Maitama, and Nyanya have repeatedly complained about increasing cases of street harassment, petty theft, drug abuse, and suspicious nighttime movement involving some groups of destitute persons. Many traders and motorists say they now feel uncomfortable whenever large groups of street beggars surround vehicles at traffic points or loiter around business areas late at night.

A shop owner in the city centre described the situation as frightening, saying some of the young men pretending to beg during the day allegedly transform into aggressive gangs after dark. According to him, residents often ignore warning signs because they do not want to appear insensitive toward poor people.

Another resident said the issue goes beyond poverty alone and now appears connected to organized criminal activity. He explained that some individuals seen begging around the city seem physically strong and coordinated, raising questions about who controls them and where they operate from.

The FCTA insisted that the latest findings justify the administration’s ongoing crackdown on street begging and illegal settlements across Abuja. Officials argued that beyond environmental concerns, the security implications can no longer be ignored. They warned that criminal gangs are becoming more sophisticated and are constantly searching for loopholes to evade arrest.

Authorities also revealed that some abandoned buildings and hidden settlements around the city have allegedly become temporary storage points for drugs and stolen items. Security operatives said raids carried out in certain locations led to the recovery of substances suspected to be cannabis and other narcotics, though investigations are still ongoing.

The administration maintained that genuine humanitarian support would continue for vulnerable individuals, especially children and persons displaced by hardship, but stressed that security agencies would not tolerate criminal infiltration under the guise of begging.

Some civil society groups, however, urged the government to avoid painting all homeless persons as criminals. They warned that aggressive raids without proper welfare programmes could worsen the suffering of innocent people genuinely affected by poverty, displacement, and unemployment.

A social development advocate noted that while security concerns must be addressed seriously, authorities should also invest in rehabilitation centres, mental health support, vocational training, and emergency shelters for vulnerable people. According to her, many individuals on the streets are victims of economic hardship and social neglect rather than willing participants in crime.

Despite the criticism, the FCTA said it would intensify surveillance and continue joint operations involving security agencies, environmental officials, and social welfare departments. Authorities added that residents should remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or abandoned items around their communities.

Security analysts believe the situation reflects a broader challenge facing many urban centres across Nigeria, where economic pressure and rising unemployment are making vulnerable populations easier targets for recruitment into illegal activities. They warned that drug traffickers often take advantage of desperation, offering small payments to people willing to take risks for survival.

Experts also pointed out that Abuja’s rapid population growth has placed pressure on housing, social services, and security management, creating opportunities for informal settlements and underground criminal operations to thrive unnoticed.

Meanwhile, residents are calling on the government to strike a balance between enforcement and compassion. Many insist that while dangerous criminal networks must be dismantled, innocent people should not become victims of profiling simply because they are poor or homeless.

The renewed alarm from the FCTA comes at a time when concerns over drug abuse and insecurity are already growing across different parts of the country. Parents, community leaders, and religious organizations have repeatedly warned about the increasing spread of narcotics among young people and the role drugs play in violent crimes.

As enforcement operations continue in Abuja, authorities say the administration remains committed to protecting residents and restoring public confidence in the safety of the capital city. Officials also assured that investigations would continue to identify those allegedly sponsoring or coordinating the movement of illicit substances through vulnerable individuals on the streets.

For many Abuja residents, the warning has become another reminder that insecurity can sometimes hide in plain sight. What appears to be ordinary street begging during the day may, according to authorities, conceal a much larger and more dangerous network operating quietly within the city.