The Kano State Government has announced plans to pardon repentant thugs under its ‘safe corridor’ initiative designed to curb political thuggery and youth restiveness in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi-Waiya, made this known on Wednesday at the state police command headquarters during the inauguration of the programme.
“His Excellency, Governor Abba Yusuf is so much concerned about this (thuggery menace) because the development is very much ugly and it doesn’t really speak good of the image of the state.
And that is why His Excellency decided to initiate this project as a deliberate and very intentional project with a view to addressing this,” Waiya said.
He explained that the initiative would subject the youths to drug tests, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.
“We know very well some of the youth that are actually involved in this, it’s not their own intention, it’s not their own interest, but they were actually lured into that by some evil-minded politicians, which we really look at and see that it is really unacceptable.
Read also: Yobe launches cash-for-rent initiative for flood victims
This government is not going to accept this, and we’re not really going to allow this to continue in the state,” he added.
Waiya stressed that amnesty would be granted after police validation.
“Having granted amnesty, then they are going to be free from all accusations or from anything to do with any crime, and they will now be considered as innocent as everybody,” he said.
So far, 718 youths have already been profiled, while another 960 are awaiting police validation before being enrolled.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, urged those still in possession of arms to surrender, saying the initiative provides them second chance to start afresh and become productive members of society.
Also, the Commander-General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, appealed to the repentant thugs to provide information that could aid the arrest of drug dealers and convince their colleagues yet to surrender to follow suit.
