El-Rufai orders clampdown on beggars

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has ordered security operatives to ensure a strict enforcement of the ban on street begging, hawking as well as commercial motorcyclists also known as ‘okada’ riders as from today.

The state had, in the wake of an attack by Boko Haram insurgents in Zaria in 2015, banned street hawking, begging and the activities of commercial motorcyclists in the state.


Boko Haram insurgents claimed responsibility for the attack which led to the death of several persons, mostly teachers on a verification exercise conducted by the state government.

Ordering beggars, hawkers and commercial motorcyclists off the streets, the governor’s Special Assistance on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, who announced the enforcement order, said the decision was purely that of the State Security Council.

He said law enforcement agents had been directed to enforce the law against begging, street hawking and ‘okada’ riders in the state.

He said by the notice, beggars, hawkers as well as illegal commercial motorcyclists were warned to go off the streets in their own interest.

He said credible intelligence report necessitated the current move by the state government.

Aruwan said the state’s security council had given sufficient notice to persons that may be affected by the implementation of the decision.