By correspondent in Minna.
Comrade Yakubu, flanked by heads of security agencies in Niger state.
The Niger State Government has issued a strong warning to community leaders and residents within Minna and its environs to conduct routine self-checks and expose individuals of questionable character in their midst.
This directive follows a surge in violent clashes involving rival youth gangs across several areas in the state capital, including Dutsen Kura-Gwari, Dutsen Kura-Hausa, Kpakungu, Soje A & B, Morris Area, Tudun Wada, Maitumbi, Limawa, Ketaren-Gwari, and other locations under the Minna Area Command.
The warning was delivered by the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba, during a joint night patrol involving multiple security agencies. The operation included the state Commissioner of Police, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local vigilantes.
Concerned by the increasing insecurity, the patrol team visited several flashpoints within the capital, including Dutsen Kura-Gwari, known for its violent gang activity and the presence of a well-coordinated drug cartel operating behind the residence of a local community leader (Mai-Angwa).
During interactions with community heads in the affected areas, the Deputy Governor urged them to monitor visitors to their communities and promptly report those suspected of criminal intentions to security agencies.
Comrade Garba lamented the deteriorating security situation in Minna, once known for peace, and warned that failure to adhere to the government’s directive would attract severe consequences.
He also instructed security operatives to intensify surveillance, identify volatile zones, and apprehend individuals fomenting trouble or engaging in criminal activities, to restore peace in the capital and surrounding areas.
The Deputy Governor encouraged residents to go about their legitimate activities without fear, urging them to cooperate with security agencies by reporting any suspicious behavior or criminal acts promptly.
During the joint operation, 61 suspects were arrested in different parts of Minna. According to the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, the suspects were apprehended for their involvement in thuggery, youth restiveness, and armed robbery.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
