BEVERLY HILLS, CA, January 16, (THEWILL) – The Borno Youth Vigilante group also known as Civilian JTF on Thursday sent a warning signal to political thugs in the state not to take the law into their hands, saying it will deal ruthlessly with anyone caught breaching the fragile peace in the state.
The warning followed last week’s muscle-flexing between the supporters of the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, and his predecessor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who were both pelted with stones by alleged political thugs.
The culmination of the political muscle-flexing was the massive explosion that rocked Maiduguri on Tuesday, killing 43 persons and injuring many others.
The Civilian JTF therefore called on political parties in the state to call their youth wing and thugs to order, saying the youth vigilante group will not tolerate any person or group trying to truncate the emerging peace being enjoyed in the state.
Speaking at a media briefing in Maiduguri, the legal adviser to the Civilian JTF, Barrister Jibrin Gunda, also called on the authorities to lift the curfew imposed on the state to enable JTF members patrol the streets for 24 hours.
“We appeal to political parties in the state to call their youth wings or thugs from taking laws into their hands. We will not condone any segment of the society who wants to take the laws into their hands.
”Our youth should remember that this group of politicians doesn’t care about our welfare or peaceful co-existence” he said.
While calling on the people of Maiduguri and its environs to continue to support the group in the task of assisting security agencies in protecting lives and property, Gunda said the recent explosion will not deter the youths from carrying out their responsibility.
He however maintained that the group was more determined and focused to continue to discharge its responsibility even at the risk to their lives.