Over 20 arrested beggars escape from Abuja Rehab Centre
More than 20 beggars recently picked up from the streets of Abuja’s city center have reportedly escaped from the FCT Rehabilitation Centre, located in Kuchiko-Bwari on the outskirts of Bwari town.
The beggars were said to have broken out of the facility on Sunday night, escaping through a fence at the back of the Centre.
A local resident of the surrounding community revealed that some of the escapees approached nearby residents, asking for food and shoes.
He explained that the escaping beggars said they left the Centre because they were not being properly fed and were being mistreated by the Centre’s officials.
He also mentioned that, despite the increased deployment of police officers both inside and around the Centre following the arrival of the beggars, the escapees managed to slip out through the back of the facility, bypassing the main gate where security personnel were stationed.
When newsmen visited the Centre on Monday, none of the officials were willing to comment, with most citing civil service regulations that forbid them from speaking to the press without prior approval.
It is worth noting that the Centre’s principal was recently killed on the premises by assailants whose identities remain unknown.
Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the Command and Control Centre for the Taskforce established to maintain order in Abuja, denied reports of any inmates escaping from the Centre. He stated that security had been strengthened at the facility to ensure the safety of both the inmates and staff.
Olumuji explained that the beggars had been brought to the Centre for profiling and rehabilitation. He added that any beggar unwilling to stay could be repatriated to their state of origin.
Regarding their welfare, he clarified that the FCT Social Development Secretariat was responsible for the care of the inmates, and assured that the Secretariat would make every effort to meet their needs.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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