The Emir of Minna, Dr Umaru Faruq Bahago, has set up a 31-man committee on anti-thuggery and substance abuse to address persistent thuggery, youth restiveness and consumption of hard drugs by youths in Minna and its environs.
The royal father, while inaugurating the committee in Minna, tasked members to discharge their duty effectively in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations.
He also directed the committee to work hand in hand with law enforcement agencies in Minna Emirate to achieve the desired objective.
The Emir stated: “I assure you of my maximum cooperation at all times. And, also ensure you did not spare any person who would want to breach the peaceful coexistence already established in the Emirate.”
Also, Niger State Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Mohammed Mua’zu, in his remarks, charged the committee to ensure that thuggery and other forms of criminalities in Minna Emirate is brought to a halt.
According to him: “Youth restiveness and thuggery that have become the order of the day in Minna and its environs have no breeding ground in the emirate. That is why we are inaugurating the committee to address the menace.
“Any person arrested will be arraigned in court within 24 hours and we are calling on law enforcement officers that would arraign suspects in court to follow due process in accordance with penal code law.”
According to him any person found in possession of a dangerous weapon, causing fear and breaching peace would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
Earlier, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor of Niger State and Jowon Minna, Hon. Nma Kolo Mohammed, noted that since the composition of the committee two weeks ago, Minna and its environs have witnessed relative peace.
He also urged ward heads in the emirate to live up to expectations in their domain by checking the inflow of strangers in order not to accommodate bad elements.
The committee has Alh. Umar Sanda as its chairman.