The Kwara State Government has said it will not tolerate the use of street begging as a cover for criminal activities, the state’s Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, said on Friday.
The statement follows the arrest of a suspected bandit who allegedly disguised himself as a beggar in Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The Ministry of Social Development has been conducting monitoring and enforcement exercises against street begging in the Ilorin metropolis and other parts of the state.
Hajia Imam spoke during a monitoring and enforcement exercise against street begging in Ilorin, as outlined in a statement issued by the ministry’s Press Secretary, Rasheedat Shodunke.
The commissioner described the incident in Igbaja as a serious security concern that could undermine public safety if not addressed.
She said the state government remains committed to supporting vulnerable persons through structured rehabilitation and empowerment programmes.
Imam said: “While the state remains committed to protecting vulnerable persons through rehabilitation and empowerment programmes, we will not tolerate the use of street begging as a cover for criminal activities.”
She warned parents, guardians and sponsors against encouraging or compelling children and dependants to engage in street begging, noting that such actions expose them to grave dangers.
The commissioner urged residents to be vigilant and to report suspicious activities to security agencies or relevant authorities.
The ministry confirmed that ongoing monitoring and enforcement operations will be extended to all local government areas of the state, and that individuals or groups found engaging in or facilitating street begging would face strict legal consequences under existing state laws.
The government’s announcement signals heightened enforcement against street begging in Kwara State, especially after the arrest of a suspect alleged to have used begging as a disguise.
The warning to parents and guardians indicates the government’s focus on preventing the exploitation of children and dependants in begging activities.
Calls for vigilance and public reporting may involve increased cooperation between residents and security agencies in addressing perceived security risks linked to street begging.
