Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Usaini Gumel, on Wednesday, placed N300, 000 bounty on three unrepentant and wanted hoodlums otherwise known as Yan Daba who have been terrorizing the state.
The Kano police boss, who spoke at Sani Abacha stadium, ding the opening ceremony of a three-day peace football match between the CP Boys and City Boys, said anyone or group of persons who give useful information that will lead to the arrest of the wanted hoodlums will receive bounty.
CP Gumel placed a bounty of N100, 000 on each of the wanted hoodlums.
He gave their names as Abba Burakita of Dorayi Quarters; Cile Maidoki of Tudun Fulani area; and Hantar Daba of Kwanar Diso quarters, all in the Kano metropolis.
According to him, following directive by the Command to the hoodlums in the state to submit themselves for dialogue and amnesty, the police have, so far, received 99 of the repented hoodlums, while efforts are being made to arrest those who have refused to shun crime and embrace peace.
He further stated that, “what we are witnessing today is the opening ceremony of a peace football tournament between the CP Boys and the City Boys. The CP Boys are representing the Police Command, while the City Boys are representing the repented hoodlums.
“We have decided to bring the repented Yan Dabars (hoodlums) closer to us. We have received a total of 99 of them. But there are unrepentant ones who have refused to embrace peace. We will definitely ensure that they are arrested and face the wrath of the law.
“I will pay the reward out of my pocket. I will pay N100,000 for anybody that capture or bring credible information about the whereabouts of each of the three notorious thugs.
“These boys have been disturbing the peace of our state. We invited 30 of them to come and sit with us in a bid to see how they would stop their activities but let me tell you, about 99 showed up; only these three refused to come.”
He said the aim of the football competition was to foster unity and peace between security agents and youths in the state, especially the repentant thugs in a bid to make them feel loved and be reintegrated into the society.
According to him, “sometimes it is good to start fighting criminality with non-kinetic approach. Unless if that did not work, then the kinetic method should be employed.”
CP Gumel appealed to the general public to support the command achieve the desired goals.
The state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was represented by the Director-General, Special Duties, AVM Ibrahim Umar, commended the police for the initiative and promised that the state government will provide every support and logistics that will enable the police fight crime and criminal activities in the state.
Governor Yusuf urged youths in the state to shun all act of criminality and remain law-abiding in order to be productive in the society.
He further stated that, “the society loves youths and any punitive action taken against thugs is not because they are hated; but it is because they are loved and cared for by the society.”
In his remarks, the chairman of Kano state Correspondent Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhaji Aminu Garko who was also a Special Guest at the event, commended CP Gumel for coming up with the peace football match initiative between the police and repented hoodlums.
He said the event will build confidence on he youths and encourage them to shun crime and criminal become good ambassadors of the state.
According to him, with the new initiative of fighting crime created by CP Gumel, hoodlums who are yet to turn a new leaf will be motivated to do so, having seen the manner the police treated the repentant hoodlums.
The football match, however, ended 1–1 draw between the CP Boys and the City Boys.
Members of the Police Community Relations, politicians, business men, representatives of other security agencies and the media, among other stakeholders, were part of the people that attended the event.