Kwara beggars harbour weapons, charms, commissioner lament
The Kwara State Commissioner for Works and Transport, AbdulQwawiy Olododo has mentioned no fewer than 10 lives had been misplaced within the numerous fireplace incidents which occurred within the state in 2023.
This got here because the Commissioner for Social Development, Afolashade Opeyemi lamented that some beggars within the state had been discovered with harmful arms like weapons, daggers, charms and different harmful weapons
The state commissioners disclosed this on Monday whereas giving the scorecard of the one-year administration of the State Governor, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq’s second time period at an inter-ministerial press briefing organised by the Ministry of Communications and Strategy.
Olododo mentioned that the state Fire Service saved property value N18 billion through the interval.
He mentioned, “The State Fire Service through the time below overview obtained 190 emergency calls from residents. The State Fire Service saved property value over N18 billion from fireplace incidents up to now 12 months, whereas the estimated worth of property misplaced throughout this era amounted to N629 million.
“Additionally, at least 10 lives were lost to fire disasters during the year, though many fire victims were rescued alive”, the Commissioner mentioned.
He attributed the saving of many lives to the immediate interventions of Fire Service officers and the acquisition of contemporary firefighting gear and equipment by the state authorities.
Speaking on street initiatives, Olododo revealed that 75 street initiatives earmarked for rehabilitation, reconstruction, and interlocking had been accomplished throughout the state, lowering journey occasions. He added that work is ongoing on an extra 80 street initiatives throughout the 16 native authorities areas, geared toward additional reconstruction, rehabilitation, or interlocking.
Meanwhile, Opeyemi mentioned the state authorities raided and took away from the Ilorin metropolis marked beggars suspected to be arms depots for criminals, including that 158 of such beggars had been mopped up throughout the state within the final 12 months.
Opeyemi lamented that many of the beggars raided had been discovered with harmful arms like weapons, daggers, charms and different harmful weapons, questioning what individuals who claimed to be beggars may very well be doing with such harmful weapons and charms.
According to her, the raided beggars, largely from Bauchi, Kano and different northern states, have constituted an awesome social menace within the state, significantly Ilorin and its environs.
She mentioned, “Our discovery is a confirmation that criminals keep their guns and other weapons with the so-called beggars.”
Opeyemi additionally hinted that 5 lunatics threatening the peace of the Ilorin metropolis have been handled by the state authorities at a psychiatric residence within the Olorunda space, Ilorin and discharged after due certification of their psychological stability and repatriated again to their respective states.
She mentioned, “We have evacuated 158 young beggars from the streets, 88 were raided the first time while another 70 were later added. They have since been repatriated to their states.”
The Commissioner mentioned the state authorities’s delegation had on a number of events met with the management of those impaired individuals on the necessity to rid the state of menaces, however “the truth is that they are just too stubborn”.
Opeyemi additionally hinted that 5 lunatics threatening the peace of the Ilorin metropolis have been handled by the state authorities at a psychiatric residence within the Olorunda space, Ilorin and discharged after due certification of their psychological stability and repatriated again to their respective states.
