Residents of the hitherto peaceful city, Minna now live in fear of being a victim of the rampaging youths popularly called ‘Yan Sara Suka’ who launch their attacks mostly in the evenings.
The development has made many residents daily basis rush home early to avert being caught at the centre of the group’s dastardly act which started at the initial stage around Limawa and Angwan Daji.
Some security experts have continued to blame the crisis within the frustration-aggression theory and argued that frustration is the bane of the recurrent violence in the Niger State capital.
LEADERSHIP Weekend writes that most of the circumstances that egeneratd the
frustration and anger that has today degenerated into murderous banditry in the state capital is founded on a sense of injustice and also premised on the claim that the state continued to ignore the preceding
factors, environmental security and infrastructural developmental issues that sparked the conflict suffered by the innocent citizens of the Area.
However, aside from insurgency, cattle rustling, and outright kidnapping, Niger State is grappling with the menace now growing into full banditry.
The situation has posed serious security challenges in the state as the gangsters’ approach has proven to be difficult to LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that more streets within the state capital are now witnessing the dastardly act of the rampaging youths who often clash in a manner akin to insurgents.
A resident of Minna, Sani Umar said, “The deadly act started like just a mere clash between opposing youth gangs and graduated into the killing of innocent people, stealing and robbing people of their valuables.
“They accost armless women and children, dispossess them of their handbags, telephone, and other valuables at various hideouts when they are not fighting each other.”
LEADERSHIP Weekend investigation revealed that such hideouts are now called ‘chambers’ where they find solace and wait for innocent passersby to prey on.
It was observed that areas like Limawa, Angwan-Daji, Paida, Gwadebe market, Anguwan-Sarki, Ogbomosho road, Kasuwan-Gwari, Gbagenu, Barkin Sale, and some areas within Kpagungu environs within Minna metropolis were the black spot for their nefarious acts.
There are instances when people abandon their vehicles, properties, and even children, to escape from the hoodlums.
Just last week in Gbeganu, a mother abandoned her baby to escape from the hoodlums.
A resident of the area simply identified as Yakubu Yusuf who witnessed the ordeal of the woman said the restive youths were attacking each other when all of a sudden the group scattered and started breaking shops that were already closed for business.
He said, “In the process, a woman carrying a baby about a year old had to run and abandoned her baby when she fell. Immediately we called the vigilante and Anti-Drug Committee (ADC) who eventually rescue the baby from the hoodlums”
A community leader at Gbegenu Ibrahim Abdullahi said it was unfortunate that the ever-peaceful Gbegenu has been taken over by hoodlums and called for urgent attention.
The restiveness is gradually turning to outright banditry as put by Mal Abdullahi “One day the boys with cutlass came into this community, they took turn to burgle many shops best the owners who resist their attacks.
“At the end of the operation, many of the people they attacked were injured, we had to rush them to the hospital,” he added.
Yakubu, a resident of the area said: “We use to hear such attacks on Angwan Daji, Limawa area, now we are witnessing it, we want frequent vigilante and police patrol in our community.”
Niger State Police Command reacts
The Niger State Police Command, however, said following the reports of incessant miscreants clashes, thuggery, and robberies in parts of Minna metropolis, they have beefed up operation.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Wasiu Abiodun said areas such as Stadium Junction, Limawa, Angwan-Daji, Bosso road, Flamingo junction, Morris junction, and Barkin-Sale where the youths were causing public unrest, inflicting serious injuries on victims and dispossessing unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables have been raided.
Consequently, he said in a bid to curtail this trend and menace, early last week the Command mobilized its tactical teams to conduct the raid.
He said the tactical team comprised of Operations Department, CTU, Anti-kidnapping unit, tactical support team, Area Command team, various patrol units in the metro, and vigilante members.
The Command spokesman said the team was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations DCP Ali Hayatu Kaigama, and house to house raid sting operation was conducted within Limawa, Angwan-Daji, Paida, Gwadebe, Anguwan-Sarki, Ogbomosho road, Kasuwan-Gwari, and its environs within Minna metropolis.
He said during the raid, 44 notorious suspects were arrested with different types of dangerous weapons, and those arrested were between the ages of 15 and 38 years
Those arrested were Abdullahi Ibrahim, Abdullahi Isah, Jibrin Musa, Moh’d Sani 30yrs Samaila Salisu, Bashir Mukhtar, Isah Moh’d Kabiru Dahiru, Isah Sidi, Musa Abubakar, Ahmadu Ibrahim, Aliyu Ibrahim, Musa Ishaq Sadiq Yau, Abdullahi Hassan, and Alhassan Adamu all arrested from Limawa.
Others are Abdullahi Adamu, Musa Aliyu, Aliyu Shafiu, Aminu Bello, Aminu Umar, Nafson Awal, Musa Lawal, Ismail Ibrahim, Aminu Hassan, Alhassan Moh’d, Abubakar Tanko Tasiu Usman, Immurana Yahaya and Mustapha Aliyu all in Angwan-Daji.
Those arrested in Anguwan-Sarkin and Gwadebe were Adamu Moh’d, Moh’d Ibrahim Ahmed Musa, Zarideen Basiru, Aminu Bala, Hassan Yusuf, Tasiu Basiru, Kasuwan- Gwari Nafiu Moh’d, Jamilu Saidu and Saqiru Attahiru.
He said others who were arrested at different locations while a Police Division team were on patrol were Abubakar Umar at Paida Yahaya Musa, Abdulrahman Sani, and Abdulkarim Habibu at Angwan-Daji.
Abiodun said some of the dangerous weapons recovered from the suspects includes; 11 cutlasses, four scissors, five knives, four swords, one garotte, five sticks, eight handset phones, three shisha pipes/pots, a big saw, scale, an iron bar, a bottle containing illicit drugs, lighter, screwdriver, bunch of keys, and ATM cards
The spokesman said all the suspects have been transferred to SCID for discreet investigation and they will be arraigned in court for prosecution with capital offense charges.
The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Ogundele Ayodeji, has expressed satisfaction with the operation, and directed that the operation be a continuous exercise.
He said it was towards ensuring that Minna metropolis is rid of unguarded elements disrupting the peace of the metro, as he reiterated that “enough is enough”.
He appreciated the cooperation and support of members of the public and assured them of peaceful atmosphere for their economic activities as adequate security is guaranteed.
The PRO said the success recorded was due to engagement with stakeholders and traditional leaders of the areas; the Village Heads and community leaders.
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that towards ensuring a permanent solution to the menace of youth restiveness in Minna, Minna Emirate council has set up a committee.
It was learnt that the traditional head of the streets (Angwa) has been admonished to expose the unguarded youths in their area as a way of proactive action, instead of security agents being reactive when the hoodlums start their restiveness.
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