Borno set to stem ‘political hooliganism’

On many occasions, state authorities have had to scold the youth over violent behaviour at public gatherings in Maiduguri, Biu and Gwoza towns, terming the activities as political hooliganism.

Rival violent groups, ECOMOG, loyal to political heavyweights are said to have been popular in Borno State until 2019 when the government clamped down on them. Until then, they were used by politicians either as guards in electioneering or to intimidate opponents and disrupt rallies, elections and other social gatherings.

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A former member of an ECOMOG group in Bulabulin, Maiduguri, who declined to give his name, said clashes between opposing groups in the past led to deaths, injuries and loss of property.

Politicians allegedly paid members of ECOMOG groups loyal to them huge sums of money as reward; with many group leaders given cars and houses, he said.

“This government banned the activities of ECOMOG groups in 2019 and gave them temporary jobs as cleaners, while others obtained grants and started small businesses. I have a stall where I sell meat and I enjoy my business,” he said.

Each ECOMOG member was reportedly given N30,000 by the government for six months as payment for street cleaning.

He said while the majority of the groups were violent, few others did not harm individuals or damaged property, as “some of the groups were essential in canvassing support and political awareness.”

However, to the dismay of the authorities, the groups have resurfaced in some places and are used by politicians to intimidate opponents.

Governor Babagana Zulum, who was in Biu town to distribute grants and loans to business associations earlier last month, observed how one group forcefully gained access into the venue of the event and attempted to disrupt proceedings. He asked police to send them out as they chanted. He directed the police commissioner andthe director of Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest them henceforth.

The governor said violent behaviour by youths would not be tolerated when he learnt that bullying and physical violence among political party thugs were unmanageable in Biu.

He warned politicians against encouraging youth violence and directed law enforcement personnel to prosecute miscreants.

He said: “The Commissioner of Police, the Director of SSS and all the security establishments are directed to arrest anyone that parades himself as a member of ECOMOG as from 6 am tomorrow (January 22, 2021).

“Any politician found sponsoring such thugs shall be dealt with accordingly,” he added.

In a related development, some ECOMOG groups are said to have resurfaced in Gwoza town. Their activities were noticed on February 5, during the distribution of loans to small and medium business owners.

To this effect, the governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, issued a statement which said government had ban political thuggery in Gwoza.

The governor expressed displeasure over the conduct of the youth during his visit and cautioned politicians sponsoring thugs to desist forthwith.

The statement quoted the governor as saying, “As a government, we embarked on various initiatives to empower our youth to make them meaningful members of society. I am very embarrassed today, looking at the youth all with posters of politicians shouting and terrorising people.

“I don’t like this kind of attitude; let us try as much to avoid engaging these youth in political thuggery.

“You the politicians, are the ones engaging them in such unholy attitudes, let me be frank with you, this does not in any way show your popularity. This will not in any way impress me; I don’t like this rowdy behaviour.

“We will not support anyone that is destroying the future of our youth and by extension the future of our state. We will not support you during elections; I want you to keep that at the back of your minds.

“I have banned thuggery in Maiduguri and like the last time in Biu, Gwoza cannot be an exception. Let me warn all of you, as from tomorrow I have directed the security agencies to arrest anyone parading himself as a political thug.”