Borno Governor Babagana Zulum has announced a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state while accusing members of the military and other security personnel of contributing to rising criminality and anti-social vices in Maiduguri and its environs.
Zulum spoke on Tuesday during the inauguration of a newly reconstituted committee on “revocation of illegal hotels, brothels, shanties, and criminal hideouts and curbing the menace of antisocial vices,” at the Council Chambers of the Government House in Maiduguri.
“I am happy to know that army officers are here, especially the military, police, and others are here because most of these activities were committed by whom? Some of them are dismissed army officers, dismissed security officers, current army officers, men and officers, including civilians,” the Governor said.
“So, there should be no sacred cow in this matter if we want the Maiduguri metropolis and indeed the state to get rid of insurgency, terrorism and other sorts of criminalities,” he added.
Zulum accused former and serving personnel of the security forces of influencing civilians into criminal behaviour, radicalism, prostitution and other anti-social vices, further escalating terrorism threats in the state.
During the event, the Governor empowered the committee with a renewed mandate to rid Maiduguri and surrounding areas of criminal elements and social decay.
The ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, he explained, is a response to increasing incidents of cultism, clashes between rival groups, prostitution, drug abuse, thuggery, and theft—many of which have resulted in loss of lives and property.
To ensure a comprehensive approach, Zulum included the military, police, civil defence corps, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in the committee’s operations.
