The Kano State Government, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, has profiled 718 repentant youths involved in thuggery and violent crimes as part of an ongoing amnesty program under the state’s Safe Corridor Project.
The ceremony took place at Police Officers Mess, Bompai Kano.
Speaking during event Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described the initiative as a non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity and youth violence in the state.
Represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Waiya, the Governor disclosed that an additional 960 repentant thugs are awaiting profiling in the coming phases of the program.
He said the Safe Corridor Project is designed to curb the menace of gang violence, phone snatching, and other criminal activities by offering repentant youths an opportunity for rehabilitation, reintegration, and empowerment.
“We believe that by engaging these youths through this non-kinetic approach, we’ll be able to contain the challenges we’re facing around thuggery, which has been a source of concern to all citizens.
Our ultimate goal is to make the issue of thuggery a thing of history in Kano State, The Governor further explained that participants will undergo drug testing and rehabilitation through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Those who pass the process will be empowered by the government to sustain their livelihoods and prevent relapse into crime.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Bakori, commended the government’s efforts and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to support the project.
He stressed that the fight against crime requires collective responsibility:
“Security is not the duty of the Police or security agencies alone.
Families and communities also have a role to play in ensuring peace and stability.
I call on all good people of Kano to continue cooperating with the Police and other agencies.
“The Kano State NDLEA Commander, Mr. Abubakar Idris, emphasized the role of the agency in creating a drug-free Kano.
He pledged full support for the Safe Corridor Project, describing drug abuse as a major driver of youth involvement in violent crimes.
Other stakeholders present at the event urged the beneficiaries to remain committed to their repentance, warning that the opportunity offered by the government should not be wasted.
Some of the repentant thugs, who spoke during the flag-off, expressed gratitude to the government for the intervention and pledged to live peacefully and productively within society.
Reporting by Abdullahi Jalaluddeen Kano