In response to the recent widespread looting of government and private property in Gombe State, the State Security Council has directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubairu Umar, to develop operational modalities to regulate the activities of scrap dealers, commonly known as ‘Yan Jari bola’.
This decision follows reports that protesters have been using these dealers to sell off items looted from offices and business premises.
The announcement was made on Monday at the Council Chamber of the Gombe State Government House. Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Njodi, revealed that the meeting was convened at the behest of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya to assess the aftermath of the violent protests that erupted in the state.
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Despite prior efforts by the governor to engage with stakeholders and understand their grievances, sporadic protests broke out across Gombe State on August 1. The council convened to devise strategies to prevent future occurrences and commended the security agencies for their efforts in restoring normalcy.
“The council, in its wisdom to understand how to go about it in the future, came up with wide-ranging resolutions. The council commends security agencies for standing firm to ensure normalcy in Gombe State during the nationwide protest,” Njodi stated.
Governor Yahaya was praised for his swift response in stabilizing the situation, visiting affected areas, consoling victims, and assessing the damage to recommend necessary government support.
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While addressing the concerns related to scrap dealers, Njodi acknowledged that their activities could potentially facilitate looters. Consequently, the council directed the Attorney General to formulate guidelines to regulate these dealers’ operations in Gombe State.
Njodi also emphasized the role of parents and the community in combating crime, urging them to warn their children against engaging in criminal activities. “Council calls on parents to take up the responsibilities towards curbing anti-social behaviours among their children.
The Council emphasized that security is everybody’s business and urges citizens to volunteer information on the communities,” he added.
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The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, reiterated that while peaceful protests are a right, proper procedures must be followed. He noted that the failure to notify the police and adhere to protest protocols led to the escalation of violence.
Usman assured that the police, in conjunction with other security agencies, acted professionally to contain the situation and restore order.
“Lawful protests are allowed; the only thing we don’t allow is for people to hijack them and turn them into violence. Normalcy is returning to the state, and we thank the residents for their support,” Usman concluded.