The Kwara State Government has remanded 66 individuals, including 21 children, 28 women, and 17 men, for violating the state’s ban on street begging.
According to a source within the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development, the individuals were apprehended during a coordinated enforcement operation in major areas across Ilorin, including the Post Office, Sulu Gambari Road, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Asa Dam Road, Geri Alimi Roundabout, Offa Motor Park, and Tanke.
The enforcement exercise, led by the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Development, Dr. Mariam Nna Fatimoh, was conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Correctional Service, and the Kwara State Ministry of Justice. The offenders were subsequently arraigned and sentenced by Senior Magistrate Jumoke Bello.
Dr. Fatimoh condemned the presence and conduct of street beggars, particularly in government-reserved areas, citing their activities as threats to public safety and hygiene. She alleged that some of them act as informants to criminal elements, including kidnappers and armed robbers, which necessitated the government’s zero-tolerance approach.
“The state will not condone loitering or criminal complicity disguised as destitution,” she warned, urging offenders to vacate restricted areas or face strict legal action.
Assistant Controller of Correctional Service, Okunola Adebayo, confirmed that those convicted would undertake community service as part of their reformation process, aimed at instilling discipline and productivity.
Also speaking, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Kwara, Barrister Funke Balogun, expressed concern over the increasing number of children drawn into street begging. While applauding the government’s action, she stressed the need for sustainable social intervention to protect vulnerable minors and enhance urban security.
