Irate youths shut down LG secretariat

chika ebuzor

June 13, 2017 6:26 PM

The youths also lit a bonfire on the express way leading to the border with Benin Republic.

Angry youths burning tyres in Akure

Some irate youths on Tuesday disrupted activities at the secretariat of Baruten Local Government Council of Kwara state over the composition of its new Transitional Implementation Committee (TIC).

The youths, who were mainly from Kosubosu, the council’s headquarters, had marched to the secretariat and chased away workers before locking up offices.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the youths also lit a bonfire on the express way leading to the border with Benin Republic.

NAN learnt that the youths were dissatisfied with the reported substitution of one Umar Galadima who was in May appointed as a member of the TIC.

Galadima, a former Revenue Officer in the council, hails from Kosubosu.

NAN also reports that the youths displayed placards with various inscriptions such as “Baruten will not know peace without Galadima,” “No to marginalisation of Kosubosu community ” and “ Reinstate Galadima for peace in Baruten.’’

Although the youths refused to address newsmen, one of them, however, told NAN that reports filtering into the community indicated that Galadima’s name had been substituted.

He said the youths were angry as this was the first time an indigene of Kosubosu would be appointed a TIC member.

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But the Chairman of the TIC, Alhaji Danjuma Sabi, condemned the action of the youths, saying they were only reacting to rumours.

“As far as I am concerned, there has not been any official announcement that Galadima has been changed.

“The youths are only acting on rumours as there had not been any announcement that Galadima’s name has been substituted,’’ he said.

Sabi warned the youths against disruptions that could cause setback to the area in its quest for development.

He urged the youths to always explore dialogue in conflict resolution rather than resort to violence.

chika ebuzor