Police introduce rehabilitation programme for repentant thugs in Gombe

As part of efforts to address thuggery that is so rampant in Gombe State capital, the state police command of the Nigeria Police Force has launched rehabilitation programme for repentant thugs.

Our correspondent reports that for many years, thugs notoriously called ‘Yan Kalare’ have been pestering residents of the state with criminal acts such as burglary, snatching of phones, motorcycles and money via intimidation with weapons.

They also often stab and cut innocent residents passing by the road with knives and machetes without any provocation.

LEADERSHIP recalls that last year, the kalare thugs murdered a notable islamic cleric in the state Sheikh Albani Kuri when they attacked him in his house in the night with a view to robbing him and family members of their phones.

However, as part of measures to mitigate the menace, the commissioner of police in charge of the state command Hayatu Usman said the police in partnership with some non governmental organisations would organise occupational trainings to hoodlums who renounced their criminality and repented voluntarily in order to make them responsible members of the society.

He stated this while addressing journalists after the reception of some repentant thugs and launching of the rehabilitation programme at the command headquarters on Wednesday.

According to him, the police so far received about 200 repentant thugs saying with the launching of the rehabilitation programme, 20 of them would be trained on repairs of electrical appliances, electric wiring and installation of solar power panels among other skills.