By Sarah NEGEDU
Police in the nation’s capital have asked traditional rulers to encourage youths to always pursue grievances through legally approved channels rather than taking laws into their hands.
The advice is coming following the tension that broke out between some Hausa and Gbagyi Youths along 3rd Avenue in Gwarinpa on Saturday 22, April, 2023.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement, disclosed that the Acting Commissioner of Police for the FCT, DCP Ahmed Musa, has since mobilized and deployed operatives from the command to the affected areas to douse tension and effect necessary arrests.
It stated that the police commissioner convened a meeting with traditional rulers of both the Hausa and Gbagyi communities at his office to broker peace between both groups, adding that the meeting deliberated on possible collaborations necessary to keep the youths in check and oust troubleshooters in the communities.
According to the statement, “The fracas between the two groups which caused the grievous wounding of two (2) youths who were conveyed to the hospital where one was eventually declared dead after attempts to attend to his wounds failed, led to the arrest of one suspect who is currently assisting the Police in their investigations to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the affray.
“The Acting Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT has charged the Traditional Rulers to consistently encourage the youths to imbibe peace and pursue grievances through the legally approved channels rather than taking laws into their hands. Meanwhile, the Police has intensified surveillance patrols in the areas for monitoring the situation to ensure that it does not further escalate.”
The command urged all well-meaning residents of the FCT to go about their lawful businesses and report all suspicious activities, persons, or groups through the command’s emergency lines.