You may have seen them yourself, huddled on the side of the road, begging for scraps. They are the homeless children of Enugu State, and their numbers have been growing alarmingly.

A report by the Enugu Metropolis Area Command of the police at a recent town hall meeting highlighted the sharp increase in destitute and homeless children at motor parks across the state.

Chief Chuks Nwomeh, the Chief Security Officer of Enugu Terminal One at the Holy Ghost Bus Terminal, revealed that many destitute persons, particularly children, use the terminal as a shelter. He cited this as a major security concern and stated that 17 individuals from this group have been apprehended for alleged involvement in criminal activities.

Similar issues persist at the New Artisan Market on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, according to Chief Nwomeh.

Felix Ogugbo, another stakeholder, highlighted security gaps in the corridor between Centenary City and HELIU Estate, calling for the restoration of the Distress Response Squad in the area. Rising criminal activity was also reported in the densely populated Amechi and Ugwuaji communities.

And to make matters worse, security concerns were also raised at the Akwuke, Centenary City, Damija Under Bridge in Trans-Ekulu, and Ugbo-odogwu areas.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Mamman Giwa assured residents that the police will sustain efforts to improve security through stronger collaboration with stakeholders and sister security agencies. He also explained that town hall meetings, which have been conducted across the police area commands, are designed to gather direct feedback on police performance and emerging security threats.

I believe that whenever you are rendering services, there is a need for feedback. We want to know whether we have been doing our policing work well, where we need to improve, and whether there are emerging crimes that should be brought to our attention.

Commissioner Giwa noted that his command is working closely with forest guards recruited by the federal and state governments to address concerns regarding kidnapping and insecurity in forest areas.

And to reassure residents who risk their lives to assist accident victims, Commissioner Giwa stated that the police will protect those who provide humanitarian assistance. He advised such persons to promptly notify their local Divisional Police Officer or contact the police public relations officer if they encounter any difficulties.

The Enugu Police Commission is working hard to address the growing concerns of residents. According to Commissioner Giwa, this is a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the public, acknowledging that the current police force cannot cover every area alone.

The commissioner further stated that issues raised by participants falling outside the police's mandate will be presented to the state government through the State Security Council.

The meeting was attended by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, representatives from student and youth groups, and government officials.

The Enugu State government and the police commission are taking steps to address the concerns of residents.

### Key Facts:

  • 17 individuals from the homeless children group have been arrested for alleged involvement in criminal activities.
  • Security concerns were raised at the Akwuke, Centenary City, Damija Under Bridge in Trans-Ekulu, and Ugbo-odogwu areas.
  • The police command is working closely with forest guards to address kidnapping and insecurity in forest areas.
  • The police will protect and support residents who risk their lives to assist accident victims.
  • The Enugu Police Commission is working with law enforcement and the public to address security concerns.

Enugu State is a state in the South East region of Nigeria.