Police arrest 100 beggars

The Kaduna State Police Command, on Thursday said it had arrested more than 100 beggars and hawkers in Kaduna metropolis, following the state government's ban on such activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ban on begging and hawking was on Tuesday announced by the state government as part of security measures it adopted after a suicide attack in Zaria which claimed 27 lives.

The command's spokesman, DSP Zubairu Abubakar told NAN in Kaduna that the arrest followed massive raid on major streets of the state capital.

"The ban on street hawking and begging is a state law, ours as law enforcement agency is to make sure it is obeyed.

"We will do everything humanly possible to ensure that every person adheres to the law,'' he said.

According to him, the police will handover the arrested persons to the state Enviromental Protection Agency, which will liaise with relevant bodies to transfer them to Kakuri Rehabilitation Centre.

The police spokesman said the command had taken strict measures and deployed its personnel "to raid streets in order to arrest those who violate the order.''

Abubakar solicited the cooperation of the general public in fighting crime in the state, and reminded the residents on the need to be vigilant.

He urged the public to report suspicious movements to nearest police station.