The police in Niger State have apprehended four youths in connection with the unrest that rocked the Minna metropolis and its environs, resulting in several residents being injured and property being destroyed willfully.
Restless youths have terrorized residents of Barkin Sale, Kpakungu, Stadium Road, Limawa, and Mobile roundabout in the last four days. Many people were injured, maimed, harassed, and intimidated as a result of the attacks. Similarly, property was destroyed.
Confirming the incident, DSP Wasiu Abiodun of the Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer said those arrested were picked up from the Morris and Stadium Road locations in connection with the attacks.
He also stated that police officers had been dispatched to hotspots to combat the problem.
The restive youth groups, who were allegedly political thugs, launched well-coordinated attacks on residents with no intervention from appropriate security operatives.
Armed with various dangerous weapons, the youths blocked major roads and streets, making human and vehicular movement difficult.
Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi, a Minna resident who has spoken out against the city’s increasing attacks by unruly youths, said: “We are calling on the government and security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police to do the needful before this situation gets out of hand. Parents also need to step up in bringing up their children/wards [properly] or face the wrath of the law.”
Another resident, Mohammed Tanko said: “These youths have been disturbing the peace of residents of Minna. During the recent attacks, they injured many people and destroyed and looted property. We are calling on government to rise up to this situation and address the trend before it gets out of control.”
