The Kwara State Government has intensified its crackdown on street begging following the arrest of a suspected bandit who allegedly disguised himself as a beggar in Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government Area.

The Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, disclosed the development on Friday while addressing officers during a monitoring and enforcement exercise in the Ilorin metropolis.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Ministry’s Press Secretary, Rasheedat Shodunke, the commissioner described the incident as a serious security breach capable of undermining public safety.

She noted that the arrest serves as a clear indication that street begging could be exploited by criminal elements to perpetrate unlawful acts.

While reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable persons through structured rehabilitation, the commissioner declared that the state would not tolerate the use of street begging as a cover for criminal activities.

Hajia Imam warned parents and guardians against sending children and dependents to beg on the streets, stating that such actions expose them to exploitation and abuse.

She urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

The commissioner also advised members of the public to channel their support for the vulnerable through government-approved social intervention programs rather than through indiscriminate street almsgiving.

She confirmed that ongoing enforcement operations would be extended to all Local Government Areas in the state, adding that individuals found engaging in or facilitating street begging would face strict legal consequences in line with existing state laws. (Saturday Tribune)