Neighbourhood Gangs Turning Streets Of Minna Into Battle Zone

In the past, the street fights between youths of different neighbourhoods in Minna, the Niger State capital, were between  Limawa and Ungwuan Daji, but gradually other streets and neighbourhoods of the town are joining the fight.

Youths from areas like Kpagungu, Soje and Barikin Sale have also witnessed pockets of such fights and recent developments have seen the restiveness spreading to New Market, Saiko and Maitumbi area.

The incidents of violence have left residents of Minna feeling the pressure and danger of living under a tinder box of youth restiveness.

The situation was challenging in the periods preceding the 2023 general election but later died  down after the election but recent developments show that the youth are still much around.

It was observed that when Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago assumed office last year, the situation seems to have mitigated but in the past two weeks the situation is coming back in its most deadly form.

Findings by LEADERSHIP Weekend that youths in the city are forming gang-like groups based on their streets, neioghbourhoods and subnsequently  engage in fights over who will control the streets  for political allegiance to some local politicians.

It was also  learnt that sometimes, the street fights are stage managed in order  to scare people away and unable them to be able loot.

It is however having a restating effect on businesses and the everyday lives of residents of the Niger State capital.

In the last  two years, youth restiveness and fights have become constant occurrences in the city, with  many  people having been killed and injured while property worth millions of Naira were destroyed and looted during such incidents.

Last weekend, one person was killed  and scores injured during the street fights between Saiko and another group in Maitumbi all within Minna metropolis.

In the fight , it was learnt that the youths started like it was a normal argument but later culminated into a serious fight that turned out to be fatal.

Most of the victims were mostly innocent passers-by and residents as well as innocent shop owners whose shops were burgled with valuables worth millions of Naira carted away

A Resident of Maitumbi area where the latest incident occurred Malam Babale Umar said that he ran into them and they were about to collect his motorcycle but decided to collect his phone and that of his wife instead in what started as rival street boys celebrating the Eid festival.

He said, “they rounded us up and threatened us with knives, cutlasses, small axes and other dangerous weapons.

“They initially wanted to collect my motorcycle but they settled for our telephone sets.  I was told they were celebrating the Eid festivals and fought over a simple political argument”

Another victim who sustained minor injury during the restiveness, Mohammed Ibrahim alleged that “they are acting under the influence of illicit drugs. They acted with impunity, broke into people’s shops and pilfered wares and attacked those who tried to resist.

“I was shocked by the actions of the boys, who are not as old as my children and at most in their 20s, despite the presence of police and other security agents at the corner trying to stop them. They attacked people, broke windscreens of cars and were having a free day of looting,” he said.

Sani Kareem who said he narrowly escaped the attack said the boys, from their faces were acting under the influence of drugs and were out to loot. They take to looting because their sponsors no longer fund them.

Another Resident of Minna, John Usman said the restiveness cannot be separated from drug use and abuse as well economic gains.

After the last weekend’s incident, the Chairman of Chanchaga local government Aminu Yakubu Ladan accompanied by security agents vowed to trace those who ran into the bushes after the incident.

Sources hinted that arrests were made and confessional statements were made by the youths and have given the spots where they get drugs .

It was learnt that some of the pharmaceutical stores hide under their legitimate businesses to peddle dangerous drugs

Sources hinted that the convergence points are usually few distance from the shops they buy all those drugs and those who smoke hemp and other dangerous weeds prefer uncompleted buildings.

Aminu Ladan, in a memo made available to LEADERSHIP over the week  stated that the local government area will henceforth beam searchlights on the super markets and pharmaceutical stores selling the drugs to the youths.

He also directed that all houses where the restive youths are accommodated be demolished including the shops that are selling the drugs to them.

As a result of the upsurge in street fights and thuggery within Minna, the state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has also declared a state of emergency on thuggery and other forms of restiveness in the state.

The governor told journalists after the annual mini Durbar organised by former Niger state governor and Talban Minna, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at his farm.

The governor made it clear that the state government will not condone any form of criminal activity in the state under the guise of restiveness saying that his administration has zero tolerance for rascality and thuggery.

The governor therefore directed the security agencies to deal decisively with anyone caught engaging in thuggeryor other criminal activities.

He said that the sponsors of the criminal elements will also not be spared and buildings the criminals are staying would be demolished.

To be able to effectively prosecute offenders and to accommodate areas of street fights and restiveness, the state House of Assembly has sought for the amendment of the law against thuggery in the state.