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 of the state.

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

In a statement issued on Saturday, February 14, 2026, by the Ministry’s Press Secretary, Rasheedat Shodunke, the commissioner described the incident as a serious security breach capable of undermining public safety.

“The Kwara State Government has launched a full-scale enforcement operation against street begging across the state, following growing security concerns triggered by the recent arrest of a suspected bandit who allegedly disguised himself as a beggar in Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government Area,” the statement read.

According to the Commissioner, the Igbaja incident has exposed how street begging can be exploited by criminal elements to infiltrate communities, gather intelligence, and threaten public safety.

“This is no longer just a social issue; it is now a serious security concern. We cannot allow criminals to hide under the guise of begging to endanger our people,” she said.

Hajia Imam stressed that while the state government remains committed to supporting vulnerable persons through rehabilitation, skills acquisition, and empowerment programmes, it will not tolerate the use of street begging as a cover for illegal activities.

She warned parents, guardians, and sponsors against sending children and dependants to beg on the streets, describing the practice as dangerous and exploitative.

“Children and vulnerable people are being exposed to abuse, trafficking, and criminal networks. This is unacceptable in a responsible society,” she added.

The Commissioner urged residents of Kwara State to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious persons or activities to security agencies and relevant government authorities.

She also advised the public to stop giving alms on the streets and instead channel their support through government-approved social intervention programmes and credible humanitarian organisations that can properly care for the needy.

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Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have apprehended a suspected gunrunner in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba state.

It was learnt that the troops successfully arrested a 48-year-old suspect, Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, a native of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on 12 February, 2026.

Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations in 6 Brigade, said A thorough search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of 6 PKT Machine Guns, 2 x 7.62mm special ammunition, ₦170,000 cash, 1 Peugeot 504 vehicle, 1 mobile Phone, 7 bottles and wraps of perfume as well as 2 small containers of vaseline.

He confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody and undergoing further investigation.

The army brigade spokesperson said the interception has once again denied criminal elements the opportunity to proliferate illegal weapons within the state, thereby contributing significantly to ongoing efforts to curb insecurity and enhance public safety.

“The Commander, 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Micheal Akaliro, commended the vigilance, professionalism, and swift response of the troops. He urged them to sustain the operational tempo to ensure the Brigade achieves the mandate assigned by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).He also appreciated the cooperation of local residents who provided timely and credible intelligence that significantly supported the success of the operation.

“The Commander called on members of the public to remain security conscious and to continue assisting security agencies with actionable information, saying that the Brigade remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property, and to restore lasting peace and stability across Taraba State.”

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A coalition of civil society and public interests organizations under the aegis of Campaign for Sustainable Democracy and Rights (CSDR) have demanded the immediate arrest for investigation and prosecution of the former Governor of Kaduna State and former Minister of the FCT Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and others over his self confessed crime of illegally tapping the phone of the National Security Adviser(NSA) and monitoring his conversations in the discharge of his official duties, which amounts to a breach of the Cybercrimes (Provision, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 and a subversion of national security.

In a statement released to the press today 15th February 2026 by the coalition convener and co-convener Nelson Ekujumi and Shola Omolola, it expressed disbelief, anger, pain and trauma just like millions of Nigerians and people all over the world by the self confession of Mr El-Rufai on a national TV programme that he and others listens illegally to the phone conversation of the national security adviser Mr Nuhu Ribadu.

According to the press statement, “We are shocked and traumatized by the self confession on national TV programme of Mr El-Rufai to this act of criminality and subversion of national security”.

The coalition went further to assert that it’s a known fact that in Nigeria just like it is globally, “The tapping of citizens’ phone conversations is regulated by a combination of constitutional rights, statutory acts, and specific subsidiary regulations that empower law enforcement to monitor communications under specific circumstances”.

Section 37 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, guarantees the privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications.

However, section 45 of the same constitution, qualifies the right to privacy, allowing the state to restrict this right through laws that are “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society” for reasons of defense, public safety, public order or to protect the rights of others.

As a country governed by laws, pursuant to the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, authorized agencies (such as the Office of the National Security Adviser, State Security Service, and Nigeria Police Force) must obtain a warrant from a judge of the Federal High Court to intercept communications. However, interceptions without a warrant is allowed in urgent, limited situations—such as immediate danger of death/injury, national security threats, or organized crime—but the agency must apply for a warrant within 48 hours.

Again under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015

Section 39: Authorizes law enforcement to compel service providers to intercept, collect, or record the content and traffic data of specified communications if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a crime is being committed.

According to same section, unauthorized interception of electronic communications is a criminal offense, carrying penalties of fines and/or imprisonment.

Therefore as a coalition of groups made up of Nigerians, following from the above citations of relevant sections of the law, we are at a loss to rationalize “Where in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended, Mr Nasir El-Rufai derived the powers to commit Cybercrime and subvert national security with others that he must be immediately arrested to name, investigated and prosecuted according to law?

The coalition also stated that, “The arrest and investigation for prosecution for this crime of subversion of national security by Mr Nasir El-Rufai and his cohorts, might be the sealant to plugging the gaping hole in our security challenges occasioned by terrorism and banditry for which they could have been illegally tapping the NSA phone conversations and leaking sensitive security information to terrorists and bandits to continue to unleash havoc on Nigerians”.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nelson Ekujumi
(convener)
Shola Omolola
(Co-convener)

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