Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has convened an emergency expanded security meeting to review the August 1, 2024 End-Bad-Governance Protest situation and develop a coordinated strategy to prevent future occurrences.
The high-level meeting included heads of security agencies, relevant commissioners, local government chairmen, and traditional rulers.
Discussions focused on assessing the security situation after the protests and implementing measures to ensure residents’ safety across the state.
Addressing journalists in Gombe after the meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Usman, and other security heads, detailed the deliberations.
“The government recognizes the protest stemmed from economic hardship. We are committed to addressing these issues promptly and urge public support for the government and security agencies to ensure the security of lives and property,” Prof. Njodi said.
Prof. Njodi said efforts were being made to alleviate hardship in public with a soon-to roll out of another round of food palliatives for vulnerable households, saying this is the 19th initiative that aims to provide immediate relief and prevent hunger during these trying times.
Regarding public concerns about the activities of scrap material merchants, popularly known as Bola-Jari, the Secretary to the Gombe State Government revealed that Governor Yahaya had directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Zubair Muhammad Umar, to establish regulations for their operations in the state.
The council also commended security agencies for their prompt intervention in managing the situation and preventing escalation, praising Governor Yahaya’s leadership during and after the protests.
Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman assured residents of their safety and urged the public to remain calm and peaceful. He emphasized that security forces are on high alert to prevent further breaches of law and order.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property. We urge residents to cooperate with authorities and avoid actions that could lead to violence or disruption. Protests are welcome as long as they are lawful,” said the CP.
The CP also reported several arrests related to looting during the protests, with numerous valuable items recovered. He urged those who lost property to contact the police headquarters for verification and retrieval.
