Zulum gives N100m grant to 152 youths who renounced thuggery
The Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, yesterday presented a N100 million grant to 152 reformed youths who were prominent members of a violent political thuggery group, popularly known as ECOMOG, after organising a one-month intensive practical training on entrepreneurship in Maiduguri.
Zulum, who made the presentation at the Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri, venue of the one-month training, explained that 16 prominent leaders of the repentant political thugs would receive N2 million each, amounting to N32m, while the remaining 136 persons would receive N500,000 each, amounting to N68m, bringing it to a total of N10m.
He said government’s support was under the condition that none of them would ever return to political thuggery, adding they were also required to repay half of what they received.
Zulum said it was in their best interest to accord dignity to themselves by being self-reliant rather than return to thuggery. He charged them to never allow themselves to be used because those who use them do not allow their children to become thugs.
Daily Trust Saturday reports that the 152 youths had denounced thuggery in response to the governor’s ban on such activities in 2019.
Zulum also pledged to sponsor the children of the repentant thugs in schools as part of a strategy to prevent them from toeing the paths of their parents.
Responding, the leader of the group, Tijjani Daga, said the governor had proved his genuine love for them by not only setting up businesses for them, but also promising to educate their children.