Security operatives in Kwara South Senatorial District have arrested a suspected bandit who allegedly disguised himself as a beggar to evade detection in Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The suspect was apprehended on Tuesday evening following intelligence-led operations by the Joint Security Watch in the area.
Confirming the arrest on Wednesday, the Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South, Elder Oyin Zubair, said the incident exposed a new tactic being adopted by criminals operating within the district.
“The suspect was caught disguising himself as a beggar in Igbaja,” Elder Zubair said, adding that security agencies had earlier received intelligence reports that bandits were using beggar-like appearances to gather information and move freely across communities.
According to him, some bandits recently fled Baba Sango after discovering that their informants, who posed as beggars while roaming towns and villages, were being tracked by security forces.
He noted that criminals from Baba Sango and Oro-Ago are now spreading to other parts of Kwara South, disguising themselves as beggars or even mad persons to avoid suspicion.
“He can disguise as a beggar in a place, maybe even as a madman somewhere. They can do it,” Zubair stated.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly revealed the locations of his sponsors, said to be operating from Kaara Market, Ajasepo, and Olayinka near Oke-Ode.
The suspect has since been handed over to the Kwara State Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) for further investigation, as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks across the senatorial district.
