Niger State Assembly calls for decisive action against youth restiveness

By Christiana Ekpa

Members of the Niger State House of Assembly have called for decisive action against the perpetrators and sponsors of the recent youth restiveness that erupted in Minna, the state capital.
Addressing the House during plenary after a one-month recess for Easter and the Sallah celebrations, the Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, expressed great concern over the return of youth restiveness in the Minna metropolis.
He noted: “The return of youth restiveness in the state, particularly in Minna, the state capital, is capable of eroding all the gains so far recorded by the present administration in the area of security and the maintenance of law and order.
“Though we commend Governor Umar Mohammed Bago and the various security agencies for the prompt actions taken so far to tame the situation, there is a need for decisive action against the perpetrators and their sponsors.”
Sarkindaji also argued that the action of the hoodlums could discourage investors that are already besieging the state as a result of the friendly environment in place, adding that the Niger State House of Assembly would soon revisit the law against thuggery in the state to empower the security agencies to deal more decisively against the perpetrators.
According to him: ” As the representatives of people, we cannot fold our hands and allow this present youth restiveness to go out of hand. We will immediately revisit the law against all forms of thuggery in the state to empower the security agencies to deal with the situation.”
Consequently, the assembly resolved to summon all the heads of security agencies and other relevant stakeholders in the state on Monday to find a way out of the situation.