By Muhammad Ibrahim,Sokoto
The Sokoto State Council Of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the recent resurfacing of Political thugs at the Political Campaign Rallies in the State.
The Council observed that in the recent campaigns organized by both the ruling PDP in the state and the major opposition APC,thugs block moving machineries and passersby extorting resources and snatching belongings.
A statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman Dalhatu Abdullahi Safiyal Magori and the Secretary Muh’d Nasiru Bello,, observed with worries the visibility of several groups of thugs threatening people with different sizes of matchets, long sticks, Swords, Cutlasses and Knives at the venues of Political Campaigns.
The statement further said the act , act is unfortunate, as these thugs sometimes take law into their hands by attacking innocent citizens and snatching their valuable belongings , causing injuries to those who refused to respond to their demands on time. The Statement noted, NUJ is passionately appealing to the Major Political Actors to take urgent step, aimed at disallowing any Youth holding any weapon from following them to Campaign Rallies, in the interest of peace and the general wellbeing of their supporters.
It also cautioned Politicians to completely submit matters of security to the constituted Security Operatives, instead of compromising such to rampaging thugs.
NUJ. also challenged the security Agencies to remain steadfast on their constitutional responsibity, reminding them on the recent warning by President Muhammadu Buhari on political thuggery and other crimes in the Vountry.