The Kano State Government has revealed that it is working on plans to grant amnesty to repentant thugs in the state as part of efforts to curb the menace of political thuggery.
This was made known by the State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, during the official launch of the profiling exercise for repentant thugs under the Safe Corridor initiative.
According to him, 718 individuals have so far undergone profiling for the amnesty program, while another 960 are awaiting documentation after voluntarily surrendering their weapons.
Waiya explained that the scheme was introduced by Governor Abba Yusuf’s administration as a deliberate step to confront the rising threat of thuggery in Kano.
He said, “His Excellency, Governor Abba Yusuf is so much concerned about this (thuggery menace) because the development is very much ugly and it doesn’t really speak good of the image of the state. And that is why His Excellency decided to initiate this project as a deliberate and a very intentional project with a view to addressing this.
“We believe that by engaging these youth through this non-kinetic approach, we will be able to contain the challenges we are facing around the issue of thuggery in the state, which has been an issue of concern to all the citizens of the state.
“And today is the very day that we have commenced the profiling of these repentant youth who have agreed to key into the project. And we are hoping after the profiling by the police, then the next stage is they are going to also be profiled by the NDLEA, that is conducting a drug test of them, trying to make sure that they are very much healthy mentally and physically. Then after that, they are going to also be subjected to rehabilitation.
“Then the next is the issue of reintegration, and we are hoping that they are going to be reintegrated into society so that they could be now members or productive members of the society. We are hoping they are going to abandon this life of thuggery, which is very much unfortunate.
“We know very well some of the youth that are actually involved in this, it’s not their own intention, it’s not their own interest, but they were actually lured into that by some evil-minded politicians, which we really look at and see that it is really unacceptable. This government is not going to accept this, and we’re not really going to allow this to continue in the state, and that is why the government is very much committed to addressing this once and for all. We want to make sure that the issue of thuggery in the state become a history by the end of his administration.
“For now, we have 718, which were the first ones that were initially profiled, and we have now an additional 960, which we have also rendered the list to the police, and we are waiting for the police to validate the already profiled youth for us to continue and to have a working document. We are hoping that His Excellency is going to grant amnesty to all of them. Having granted amnesty, then they are going to be free from all accusations or from anything to do with any crime, and they will now be considered as innocent as everybody.”
On his part, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, urged others still engaged in violent activities to surrender and take advantage of the new government program.
He said, “A Message to our youth, especially those who have been involved in thuggery activities or other forms of thuggery, I appeal to you today to repent, lay down your arms, and embrace peace. The life of crime and violence leads only to destruction, pain, and regret not just for you, but for your families and communities as well.
“The Kano State Government, through this ‘Safe Corridor’ program, is offering you a second chance to start afresh and become productive members of society. Take this opportunity seriously. Let today mark the beginning of a new chapter in your lives. The Police Command is committed to supporting programs like this and will continue to work with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that those who choose the path of peace are empowered, rehabilitated, and reintegrated into society.”
Also speaking at the event, the Commander-General of Kano Hisbah, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, encouraged the repentant thugs to provide vital intelligence that could help authorities apprehend drug dealers.
He further appealed to them to convince their colleagues who were yet to surrender to embrace the initiative.
