From Dauda R PamMaiduguri
Borno State Government has banned thuggery in all political activities across the length and breadth of the state, warnig that any politician, no matter how highly placed, if found harbouring or sponsoring thugs Will henceforth loose his support and be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Governor BABAGANA UMARA ZULUM handed down the warning during a parley with youth leaders and political groups, associated with thuggery known as ECOMOG in the state, stressing that his administration will not condone any act of indiscipline.
According to him, he had at different times approved series of vocational jobs and empowerment schemes for the groups to make them self reliant and to have access to lawful means of livelihood.
Inspite of all these measures, the Governor observed, most of the youths still prefer to engage in political thuggery, as a means of livelihood.
The spokesman to the Governor, Mallam Isa Umar Gusau, quoted the governor as saying, “Borno is the only place we have, and we can’t allow a few of you to destroy the state. We have over six million people in the state. We can’t allow you to continue terrorizing the populace, we can’t tolerate that anymore.”
Added that, “We will not continue to give you money, you cannot hold us to ransom. The security agencies have been directed to deal with anyone found parading himself as ECOMOG, either at the airport, graveyard, wedding receptions or anywhere. You have been disturbing the public peace, constituting nuisance”, Zulum said.
On the menace of the ECOMOG the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, hinted that, there has been an alarming increase of house breaking, burglary including cases of theft in the state.
Visibly angry, the governor warned that, any person or group of persons found contributing to the insecurity situation within the state capital and its environs will be severely dealt with.
Also adding their voices, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdu Umar, and state Director DSS, Munir Mamman, pledged to act in line with the governor’s directive.
It would be recalled that in July 2019, two months after assuming office, Governor Zulum had announced a ban on political thuggery in Maiduguri and launched a vocational employment scheme to support the youths.
In 2020 and 2021, Zulum extended his ban on political thuggery to Biu and Gwoza, both of which have had a notorious prevalence of thuggery.
