Yakubu Busari, Jos
Deputy Chief Imam of Jos, Sheikh Gazali Ismail Adam at the occasion at the weekend in Jos.
The Concerned Jos Youths Association, COJOYA has raised the alarm over the growing menace of gangsters popularly called “Sara-Suka” in Jos, the Plateau State capital, neighbouring Nasarawa state and its environs.
At a meeting in Jos at the weekend, the 19 -Youth Association said they decided to come together to find solution to the lingering menace, which they attributed to youth restiveness, involvement in cultism and drug addiction. Unchecked, gangsterism, according to them has led to molestations of women, rape of minors and other forms of criminality in both states.
The Chairman of the occasion and Deputy Chief Imam of Jos, Sheikh Gazali Ismail Adam along with other leaders of the body, namely Barrister Buhari Na Shehu and Mai Kyau, all expressed displeasure with the high rate of violence and clashes amongst rival gangs almost on daily basis, leading to serious injuries and killings.
“We seek to promote peace, Justice, equity and fairness to all members of the society irrespective of our faith, tribes or political affiliation. We have observed with great displeasure how our generation is gradually degenerating into gangsterism of sara-sura, deadly group,” said Sheikh Adam.
Barr. Kyau disclosed that the ugly trend has caused them sleepless nights and lose of membership, disclosing that a large segment of the society was unaware of the criminality.
He restated the commitment of the group to act as an umbrella body for all the youths in the states of Plateau and Nasarawa hence the decision to organise a one -day stakeholders meeting to suggests way to educate, rehabilitate, reform and reintegrate the wayward youth as members of the community in both states.
Kyau maintained that the association would synergise with security agencies, members of the society and religious organizations to prevent further drift of the youths into crime.
He identified the activities of the Sara-Suka to include thuggery, terrorism involving the use of dangerous weapons on their victims even without provocation.
“They have graduated from provoking clashes to the breaking of shops, outright stealing of people valuables and robbing people in their houses.
Deputy Chief Imam of Jos, Sheikh Adam, who was Chairman of the occasion harped on the value of orientation in shaping every society to work together for the common good.
Adams observed that the youths who engage in Sara suka activities would do with basic elementary western and Islamic education, stating that most of them are either primary or secondary schools dropout with no benefit of been taught in a value system. He urged governments to intervene in providing at least basic education for the youths.
Engr Musa Saleh and Barrister Buhari Na Shehu
Engr Musa Saleh who was one of the quest speakers challenged the organizers to promote justice and equity: “If we must be fair in our judgment, those engaged in Sara suka are not foreigners, they were born here in Plateau state and we need to accommodate each and proffer solutions to end their problems or else this community is going nowhere.”
He called on those in authority, in the corporate world and philanthropic organisations to offer some assistance in the form of mentoring, skill training and financing of SMEs to help arrest the drift of the youths into crime.
