In an apparent effort to cash in on the current insecurity in the country, beggars have introduced a new form of begging in Kebbi. They now present themselves to residents and travellers as prayer warriors.
These beggars, who go in groups, move around the town rendering their unsolicited services but collecting whatever is given.
They usually knock on the gates and offer to pray for the occupants to safeguard them against all forms of evil and without waiting for go-head they commence their prayers reciting verses from the Holy Qur’an.
Caliphate Trust reports that they do not specify any fee for their service but collect whatever is given to them.
Our correspondent, who monitored the movements of some of them, noticed that they were careful in choosing the gates they knocked at probably in anticipation of a better reward.
It was also gathered that the prayer warriors operate like nomads as they moved from one town to the other probably in an effort to avoid constituting a nuisance to residents.
When the Caliphate Trust made effort to speak with one of them, he declined but later agreed after the reporter asked them to offer prayer for him with a promise for a good reward.
Mallam Muhammad, the leader of the group said they were not beggars as people perceived them, adding that they prayed for people for protection against evil.
Mohammed, who declined being photographed, said their aim was to help the people and not extort money from them.
According to him, as people are no longer safe at home or on the road, they also visit motor parks to offer prayer for the travellers.
He added that they travelled to towns to ensure that they prayed for many people, adding that was their contribution against the ravaging insecurity in the society.
“After we have offered the prayer we don’t wait for any offering but if you give, God will reward you. We are not into the service for making money if it were to be for money, we would have taken a different trade.
“For travellers, we don’t come to them until they are fully prepared for take-off. Sometimes, we meet them at the filling stations. We offer them prayers and bid them safe trip. Whoever gives willingly, we collect but we don’t beg,” Mohammed said.
