- * Laments Flooding Ravaging Homes in Niger State
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger state Council has expressed concerns over recent surge in urban crime and criminality involving under-aged children especially, who break into homes and business premises in major cities and towns across the state.
Members of the union have also called for sustainable means of mitigating the effects of the hardships on citizens as distribution of palliatives and cash are mere make up that is too insignificant to address the root cause or causes of the general economic hardship.
A communique jointly signed by communique drafting committee; Moses Ishaku, Chairman, Zainab Halilu Kobo, Secretary, Abubakar Hassan Shiyaki, and the Council Secretary, Comrade Usman Chiji, observed with dismay, how street urchins apparently under the influence of hard drugs metamorphose into hardened criminals breaking into homes and commercial facilities daily.
The union, however, wants the police and other law enforcement agencies to take proactive measures to reduce the menace, especially among under age children who are becoming hardened in their evil acts of breaking into people houses at nights, snatching bags and mobile phones around some black spots at nights.
"Members deliberated on attacks on recent attacks on residential houses and also called on the state government and security agencies to come up with measures to address the scourge occasioned by the activities of illegal artisanal miners especially at the M.I Wushishi housing estate and other parts of Minna metropolis".
To stem rise in crime, the union emphasized the need for joint security monitoring and surveillance of identified flash points of potential security threats to safeguard lives and properties.
To check perennial flooding, the congress suggested that the state government expedite action on the resettlement of people living along flood plains of major rivers in the state and those that are annually vulnerable to flood in order to reduce humanitarian crises and possible outbreak of diseases.
The union is also not happy with the way and manner relief materials dissapear along distribution channels without reaching the targets and suggested more holistic approach in monitoring and tracking of all relief materials being donated to the IDP camps to avoid diversion.
The congress commended the Mohammed Umar Bago led administration for infrastructural development and urged the contractors handling the various road construction projects within Minna metropolis in particular to expedite action and complete same within stipulated time. NNL.