Repent or disappear, CSO, military, locals warn criminals around FULafia
Criminals, especially cultists, perpetrating their nefarious activities around the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), unless they changed their ways, would soon be apprehended and put behind bars.
This revelation was made, recently, by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Wing Commander Umar Awe (rtd), during a meeting called at the instance of the Sarkin (chief) of Gandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammadu Abari.
The meeting, which took place at Gandu, a settlement close to the Permanent Site Campus of FULafia, and had in attendance representative from the military, politicians, leaders and members of the vigilante groups of neighbouring communities, was convened by Abari to fashion ways to address issues of cultism and threats to peace in the area.
Awe stated that Gandu, a settlement that hosts many FULafia students, and other neighbouring communities, were of special interest to the authorities of the University because of their proximity to the University.
He highlighted the need for existence of mutual understanding and beneficial relationship between the University and its neighbours, otherwise referred to as town and gown relationship, saying that without that development would be impeded in the area.
According to the security chief, town and gown relationship is beneficial to both the town and to the gown, pointing out that cordial relationship of the gown and its community results in peace, stability, security and progress.
He said that the town provides the environment within which the gown can thrive, while the gown also provides opportunity for economic and social growth for the town.
Therefore, Awe said that any strained relation between the University and the community would be detrimental to healthy growth and development for both parties.
In his speech, sarkin Gandu called on the University to give preference to the issue of development in the surrounding communities, promising that the people of Gandu would continue to live in peace with staff and students resident there.
He charged the people to expose those they consider as criminals in the community with a view to getting them apprehended by the law enforcement agencies.
In his contribution, the chief of vigilante groups in the communities, Yahaya Garba, decried the lack of people from the immediate University communities in the vigilante groups, saying that the groups were forced to rely on volunteers from distant places.
He appealed to, especially, youths in the communities to volunteer to serve in the groups, saying, however, that those considered to have criminal tendencies should steer clear of the activities of the vigilante outfits.
Speaking in the same vein, the Deputy Nigeria Air Force Commander in Lafia, Flight Lieutenant L. K. Samuel, warned criminals to desist from their illegal activities, saying that the communities and their people need peace to prosper.
He urged people of the communities to always try to settle disputes within and among them peacefully, through offices of their traditional rulers and vigilante groups.
He said that doors of the military were wide open for the communities to report bad eggs living there, adding that the military needed cooperation of the locals in its effort to provide security in the areas.
