OCTOBER 19 , 2023 | EASTERN PILOT Report By: Bashir Bello | Nigerians have expressed their concerns over the recruitment of 50 terrorists...
OCTOBER 19 , 2023 | EASTERN PILOT
Report By: Bashir Bello |
Nigerians have expressed their concerns over the recruitment of 50 terrorists known by the Nigerian government as "repentant thugs" into Kano State Police Command. The repentant thugs were recruited as police special constabularies, according to Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel. During their passing out parade, Command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna, said, “Today is a happy day for the good people of Kano State and the Police Command because we passed out fifty (50) youths from the two hundred and twenty-two (222) repentant thugs who have since surrendered themselves.”
Reacting to the development, Nigerians took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their views, stressing that this might increase unruly behaviour among security agents. Defending the move by Kano state, the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “They are not policemen. I was told, and it’s been in the news that they are repentant individuals who have been mobilised into the constabulary scheme of Kano State. The Constabulary scheme is not police but a community-based initiative.” “From this explanation it can be deduced that you know nothing about their supposed repentance until recently when you were “told” Reactions replied.
Speaking further on the controversy, the Commissioner of Police said no criminal was recruited into the force. Gumel said one Nasiru Abdullahi, whose enlistment into the constabularies, has generated serious attention, was among the 222 ‘repentant influential youths’ who denounced violence and chose to become “good ambassadors” of the state. He said that Abdullahi, also known as ‘Chile Madobi’, was among the 222 youths who had been granted amnesty by the state government.
According to him, following instructions from the state government, the youths were de-radicalized and properly profiled, during which about 50 of them volunteered to help police in the ongoing fight against criminal elements in the state. He faulted reports alleging that the state command was training constabularies at a training school, wondering when and where the state it had built a training school. Gumel said, “All the 222 influential youths, who surrendered themselves were properly profiled and the state government organised a training for them into various trades under its skills acquisition programmes.
“The State Governor, who already gave them amnesty directed us to profile them and find out where they can fit in for skills acquisition and human empowerment. Out of the 222 influential youths, 50 of them volunteered to help the police in fighting crimes and criminal activities in the state. Nasiru Abdullahi is one of them.” (Daily Trust). A credible findings revealed that the so called “All the 222 influential youths" have been terrorising mostly the igbo traders and shop owners in Kano until the the government invited them, directed them to conduct their activities in the South East with the Nigeria state cover. This has been the trend since the policy of "Operation Safe Corridor" of the previous administration of Muhamadu Buhari whereby terrorists are recruited into the security forces and send them to the South East. They mount road blocks everywhere in the South East extorting money from the citizens.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel confirmed this during the Passing Out Parade, POP of the repentant thugs after completing the two months intake training as Nigeria Police Special Constabulary. CP Gumel in a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna said the 50 repentant thugs were out of the 222 who initially laid down their arms in the state and volunteered to work with the police. He further charged them on professionalism, discipline, and to use their skills to project the community policing.
“He further recalled when about three months ago, the police command during a press conference invited some identified individuals who are behind the escalation of thuggery (Fadan Yan Daba) and other heinous crimes in the State for dialogue. As a result, a total of two hundred and twenty-two (222) repentant thugs were received and we have forwarded their details to the State Governor during our friendly football match with them at Sani Abacha Stadium Kofar Mata, Kano for them to be supported by way of engaging them in some life-changing programs.
“It is from this number that fifty (50) volunteered to work with the Police and to contribute to the security and development of the State. Taking into consideration their commitment to ensuring peace in the State since their repentance, we trained them in classes and the field and kitted them as members of the Special Constabulary. “Today, they proved to us that the security of Kano is their concern and they will not allow any insecurity elements to jeopardize the peace being enjoyed in the State. “During his lecture, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, appreciated the supervising officers of the Command for their efforts in crime fighting and further urged them to continue with community policing engagements with key stakeholders in their areas of responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Fifty (50) repentant thugs were selected with ten (10) each from Dala, Fagge, Ungogo, Kano Municipal and Gwale Local Government Areas, LGAs of Kano State.
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