Borno Bans Influx Of Stray Kids After Violent Protests

Borno State government has said that transportation of unaccompanied children into Maiduguri shall henceforth be monitored and controlled, stressing that only children who are identified in terms of their parentage, and in terms of their destination shall be allowed into Maiduguri.

LEADERSHIP reports that Governor Babagana Umara has after the violent nationwide protests that rocked Maiduguri where atleast four persons were killed, over 30 others injured , with puplic and private property destroyed , lamented that most of the protestants were minors aged about 14 years, while the state commissioner of police, CP Yusuf Lawal corroborated that the minors mostly almajiris aged 9- 15 years took over the streets in the protest.

Speaking to journalists after an extraordinary security council meeting held Monday evening at the Government House, Maiduguri, the commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar announced that the meeting also resolved that information and intelligence gathering and dissemination and usage shall be enhanced so that security agencies will be guided by intelligence.

Prof Tar further said the council resolved that arrested suspects during the hunger protest shall be prosecuted speedily, adding that all juvenile cases shall be treated according to the law while the Ministry of Justice is to fast track the establishment of a juvenile justice system.

” Council met today 5th August 2024 to review the security situation in Borno State in the light of the ongoing national protest. After a thorough review of all that happened from first to fifth of August, the Council reached the following resolutions:

” The council thanked all our security agencies for their doggedness for acting according to the spirit of the law.’ Borno State Government also pledged to continue to support our security agencies in the discharge of their lawful duties.

” Farmers shall be allowed to go to their farmlands. Our security agencies and all stakeholders are to support the Borno State government’s farming initiative. Community engagement shall be pursued vigorously. Members of the society play an important role in providing native intelligence and also are supporting the arrest of all the suspects.

” The social media shall be engaged. The Ministry of Information and Internal Security is to facilitate enhanced engagement with the social media community. Situation room and command centre shall be re-established and further facilitated and provided with all the necessary resources to carry out their responsibility.

” The command centre situation room shall be manned by the appropriate agencies in a synergetic format. Transportation of unaccompanied children into Maiduguri shall be henceforth be monitored and controlled. Only children who are identified in terms of their parentage, in terms of their destination shall be allowed into Maiduguri.

” All security agencies are to work together in a seamless manner in order to safeguard our national security and national integrity,” the security council resolved.