The Kwara State Government has evacuated another set of 40 beggars from the streets of Ilorin, the state capital.
The exercise, carried out by officials of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), Kwara Command, took place in Tipper Garage (Tanke), Offa Garage and Garin Alimi areas of the metropolis.
During a search, a US dollar note was found on one of the beggars, identified as Musa Mahmuda from Kano State, while another was caught with a sharp knife.
Seven of the evacuees were repeat offenders, having previously returned to the streets after earlier evacuations.
Commissioner for Social Welfare and Development, Dr. Mariam Imam, said the operation was yielding results, noting a decline in the number of beggars arrested — from 94 in the last round to 40 this time.
She said the ministry was adjusting its strategies as the beggars also devised new tactics to evade enforcement.
She urged members of the public to desist from patronising beggars and instead direct their support to religious bodies, orphanages, and other registered organisations, stressing that street begging has been outlawed in the state.
On his part, Adebayo Okunola, Head of Non-Custodian Centre, NCS Kwara Command, said punitive measures would be applied to the offenders to serve as deterrence. “We will make sure they clean the streets, they will sweep the streets so they understand that there is dignity in labour,” he stated.
