By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri
The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has directed security operatives to crackdown a notorious ‘Marlian,’ group believed to be terrorizing residents in some parts of Maiduguri and Jere within the metropolis.
The ‘Marlian’ group, populated by some youths associated with drug abuses, has gained notoriety for engaging in wide range of criminal activities, such as extortion, robbery, drug and substance abuse, and acts of terrorism, including the killing of security operatives.
Governor Zulum, on Wednesday, in Maiduguri held an emergency security meeting at the Government House and thereafter, briefed journalists.
He said, “I have summoned this emergency security council meeting to address the emerging security threat that is bedevilling the Maiduguri metropolis and parts of Jere Local Government Area, with a view to coming up with additional implementable strategies to guarantee the needed peace and security.
“Intelligence reports before my office from different sources have indicated increasing activities of youth gangsterism operating in some parts of the state capital and Jere Local Government. This syndicate specialized not only on phone snatching in broad daylight, robbery and possession of locally made weapons, but has now graduated into killing of innocent citizens, including security operatives.”
Expressing deep concern about the escalating violence, Zulum reiterated government’s determination to restore peace and ensure the safety of all residents.
He added, “I want to assure the general public that the government of Borno State, under my leadership, will not allow such a matter to deteriorate. I have received assurances from the security operatives of their commitment to tame such dastardly acts and our administration is ever committed to dealing with such matters within the shortest possible time.”
