Kwara State Government has removed 94 beggars from the streets of Ilorin, the state capital, as part of its effort to combat street begging and enhance security.
In addressing this problem, the government said they will be clipped and profiled and if necessary, prosecuted, and deported back to their states of origin.
The operation, commanded by the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Development, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima Imam, was supported by a joint team of the ministry of social welfare, National Correctional Service, and the office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Haliru Olamilekan Mikail.
That operation reported that 94 beggars, 43 females and 51 males were swept from Geri Alimi, Tanke Junction, Offa Garage, Tipper Garage, and Zango.
Dr. Imam stated that this was the third repatriation exercise conducted by the government and warned that street begging would no longer be tolerated in the state. “We’ve carried out massive sensitization through jingles to inform the public that street begging is banned in Kwara State,” she said.
She added that the ministry has a magistrate who handles sentencing for offenders, often ranging from one week or more, while minors are cared for until their parents complete community service punishments. The government also liaises with the beggars’ home states to ensure a proper repatriation process.
Dr. Imam advised the public to stop giving alms directly to street beggars and instead donate to mosques, churches, orphanages, or registered support centers where help is more effective and secure.
Supporting the move, Haliru Mikail emphasized the security risks involved in street begging, revealing that some of the beggars act as informants or are used for drug trafficking and other illicit activities.
“This exercise is not just about removing beggars from the streets—it’s about improving public safety and dismantling networks that exploit vulnerable individuals,” he added.
