The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. AbdulMalik Sarkin Daji, has expressed deep concern over the rising cases of thuggery and youth restiveness in the state, particularly in the capital, Minna.
He attributed the trend to politicians who hire thugs to achieve their aims, ignoring the long-term consequences for the youths and the state.
Following a closed-door meeting with joint security agencies on Tuesday at the Assembly complex in Minna, Rt. Hon. Daji vowed that the political class would no longer tolerate such actions.
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“We will never be a party to it again,” he declared, warning that anyone involved would be exposed publicly.
The Speaker assured that the state House of Assembly would support the police command in addressing the situation.
“We will liaise with the executive arm of government to ensure that necessary logistics are provided to the police and other security agencies in the state,” he said.
Rt. Hon. Sarkin Daji also announced plans to make thuggery a capital offense that is not bailable, stressing that the measure would serve as a deterrent.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman, assured residents that his team and other sister agencies would rid the state of criminal elements.
He, however, warned that those involved in thuggery should either repent or leave the state, emphasising that anyone found would be arrested and prosecuted.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE