Lagos State has seen a surge in arrests of homeless and impoverished individuals in recent weeks, with authorities citing public order concerns. Reports detail the detention of street vendors, beggars, and people without fixed addresses, many of whom are held in poor conditions. In a separate incident, homeless children in Cross River State were reportedly assaulted by security operatives. Officials in both states have defended the actions, arguing that such measures are necessary to maintain urban cleanliness and safety. No official figures have been released on the number of arrests. Human rights groups have condemned the crackdowns, calling them inhumane and discriminatory. One activist stated, "Targeting people for being poor is not law enforcement—it's oppression." The federal government has not issued a statement on the matter. Critics argue that the actions reflect a recurring pattern of criminalising poverty rather than addressing root causes like unemployment and lack of social housing.
Punishing people for being poor does nothing to clean city streets or create jobs. The actions of Lagos and Cross River authorities reveal a preference for visibility over solutions—arresting the homeless makes suffering invisible, not resolved. When the state treats destitution as a crime, it abandons its duty to protect the most vulnerable. This cycle will continue until policy shifts from harassment to housing, from arrest to assistance.
