In its efforts to stamp out street begging in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection has broken a syndicate of suspected suppliers of beggars to strategic locations in Abuja.
The Chairman of the FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection, Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (rtd), made this disclosure yesterday while parading the suspects at the FCDA Police Station at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja. The Chairman revealed that the feat was achieved with the close collaboration of security agencies in the task team where intelligence sharing is uppermost. The leader of the suspected syndicate, Baba Gwarma from Kaduna State, said he is based in Karma-Jiji, a suburb of Abuja with their leader (Sarki) in the same vicinity.
Squadron leader Monjel further disclosed that he has three personal vehicles for movement of beggars in and around Abuja as well as neigbouring states of Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna. He said Baba Gwarma has houses that he has rented out and also provide shelter for the beggars in the syndicate in Karma-Jiji. The Chairman stated that the suspect has been arrested more than 50 times in the past, but this time he would be charged to court for subsequent prosecution. Monjel further revealed that the suspect uses dangerous weapons to attack enforcement team.
