There are arguments and counter-arguments among the proponents and opponents of the ongoing demolition of structures in Kano State, by the newly-inaugurated administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
While justifying the continuous tearing down of buildings, the governor and his political godfather, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, emphasised that they are only fulfilling one of the many campaign promises they made to Kano people.
I recently conducted a special investigation on how phone-snatching is taking a toll on the residents of Kano metropolis, with a view to change the ugly trend for better narratives.
The study revealed that the immediate drivers of this crime include parents having too many household members, which they cannot cater for due to social insecurity and thus the children are left at their own mercy to fend for themselves, which prompts them to join syndicates of bad elements and start terrorizing society.
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In addition to that, the influence of drugs and substance abuse which serve as motivational factor and to some extent, the effect of poverty and unemployment also causes youth restiveness, thus, making them vulnerable to committing this kind of unwholesome act and the like.
It is obvious that since the inauguration of the new administration, which went into the demolition of structures, the incidents of phone-snatching and killing of victims within Kano metropolis have reduced greatly.
You will agree with me that the attention of these criminals (phone snatchers) has now been diverted to looting valuables from the structures that are being demolished by the state government.
It is obvious that the majority of these youth are ‘socially insecure’ which has become a major driver of the security challenges that we are facing today in Kano State and the country at large.
As envisaged by many public analysts, this lull in incidents of phone-snatching in Kano metropolis is only a matter of time before it rears its ugly head again, once the demolition is over.
I wish, therefore, to call on Governor Yusuf to channel more efforts in addressing poverty and unemployment among our teeming youths in the state, which by extension will eventually reduce the security challenges facing the state.
It is gratifying that the new administration has announced the opening of applications for local and overseas postgraduate studies among the qualified indigenes of Kano State in order to boost their human capacity.
However, it is imperative that this gesture be extended to include the provision of empowerment opportunities and skills acquisition training to these jobless youth in order to take them off the streets.
This will go a long way in developing their socio-economic capacities, thereby allowing them to cater for themselves and their families, while on the other hand propagating the economic activities of the state at large. A stitch in time saves nine!
Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi wrote from Kano via [email protected]
