Security operatives in Kwara State have arrested a bandit who disguised himself as a beggar to move freely across towns and villages in Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government Area, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The suspect was apprehended Tuesday evening in what the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South Senatorial District described as a “disturbing new trend.”
“They Also Pretend to Be Mad Men”
Elder Oyin Zubair, Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch, disclosed that intelligence reports indicate terrorists and bandits fleeing strongholds in Baba Sango and Oro-Ago are now adopting unconventional disguises to evade detection and access new communities.
“The suspect was caught disguised as a beggar in Igbaja. This is part of a disturbing trend we have noticed. They can also pretend to be mad men in certain areas. It is a tactic they use to escape law enforcement,” Zubair said.
During interrogation, the arrested suspect reportedly revealed the identities and locations of his sponsors, naming Kaara Market, Ajasepo, and Olayinka near Oke-Ode as operational bases.
According to security sources, the suspect stated: “They are the ones directing our movements.”
He has since been handed over to the Kwara State Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) for further investigation and prosecution.
Intelligence reports indicate that the arrest comes amid a wider dispersal of criminal elements from established enclaves in Baba Sango and Oro-Ago, with bandits now spreading into other parts of Kwara South and beyond.
Security analysts suggest this could be a response to intensified military pressure in their traditional hideouts, forcing them to seek new territories using covert infiltration methods.
Zubair called on residents across Kwara South and neighbouring areas to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals, whether beggars, madmen, or otherwise, to security agencies immediately.
“The era of ignoring the homeless or mentally ill as harmless is over. These criminals are exploiting our compassion and indifference. We must look again,” he warned.
The development adds another layer of complexity to the already deteriorating security situation in Kwara State, which has witnessed deadly attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama LGA, as well as intelligence warnings of planned assaults on Gbabe community in Baruten LGA.
