Zulum sets up panel to curb anti-social vices in Borno
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has inaugurated a high-powered committee to curb the rising cases of social vices in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere local council areas.
According to him, members of the panel are to address issues of drug abuse, youths’ restiveness, and other forms of violence allegedly perpetrated in the two local councils of the state.
Inaugurating members of the committee on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the governor reiterated the urgency of the situation, citing alarming instances that indicate a significant increase in criminal activities that led to social instability in Maiduguri and Jere local councils.
Zulum attributed the rising cases of criminalities such as thuggery, burglary, theft, and handset snatching to being a matter of great concern to the public not only in the metropolis but across the state.
He lamented that prostitution and gangsterism are on the rise daily in the Maiduguri and Jere local government areas.
Besides the rising cases of crimes, Zulum stated, “It is sad to note that last week some people were even killed just behind the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
In fact, it has now become the order of the day, as many places in Maiduguri are full of hoodlums.”
“In addition to this, political thuggery must be curtailed, as it constitutes a lot of public disturbances, declaring that “enough now, we must take decisive action against these criminalities in the state.”
The committee members, comprising community leaders, law enforcement personnel, the military, and the police, are expected to conduct an extensive outreach programme on educating the public on the dangers of social vices.
The Governor urged the committee to prosecute those found wanting according to the law.
He said that if these criminal activities are allowed to continue, they could lead to insurgency and a deteriorating security situation in Borno State.
The committee chairperson, Hauwa Abubakar, who serves as the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, expressed gratitude to the governor, assuring him that the committee would meet the expectations of curbing the social vices in the state.
