By Muyideen Aliyu
The Kwara State Government has removed vulnerable persons with mental health conditions from major streets and public places across the Ilorin metropolis as part of efforts to promote public safety, environmental sanitation, and the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
The operation was carried out by officers of the Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with relevant security agencies and other stakeholders, leading to the successful rescue of several individuals with mental health conditions from various locations within the metropolis.
Speaking during the exercise, the State Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, PhD, charged the officers to act professionally, humanely, and with the utmost respect for the dignity and rights of the affected persons.
The Commissioner said the intervention reflects the commitment of the state government, under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring they receive the care, treatment, rehabilitation, and support they require.
She explained that the operation was not intended to punish or stigmatize anyone, but to remove vulnerable individuals from unsafe environments and facilitate their access to appropriate medical care, psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and, where possible, reunification with their families.
Imam noted that the increasing presence of persons with mental health conditions on highways, in markets, and in other public places poses significant safety risks to both the affected individuals and members of the public.
She added that the state government would continue to intensify similar rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration exercises in line with its mandate to protect vulnerable groups and promote social welfare across the state.
The Commissioner appealed to residents of the state to partner with the government by promptly reporting cases of abandoned, homeless, or other vulnerable persons in need of urgent social intervention.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a safer, healthier, more inclusive, and compassionate society where the dignity, well-being, and rights of every citizen are protected.