Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya
By Abdullahi Abubakar
Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has opened up on how 48 children were stolen from his state.
The Governor disclosed this on Friday during the inauguration of the Ramadan palliatives distribution exercise in Gombe.
Governor Yahaya did not specify when the children were taken, and expressed uncertainty over their safe return.
“From the available records, 48 Gombe State children between the ages of two and five have been stolen from the state to other parts of the world,” he said.
“Their parents are here within the state. For the children, we don’t know if they would be found or not.
”With the relaxation of the motorcycle ban, a boy was stolen at Orji Estate but thankfully, he was rescued.”
Yahaya noted that security is a collective responsibility, urging residents to support government measures against acts that threaten peace.
“We must take serious measures to tackle these emerging threats and restore peace in the state. Before now, Nigerians were living in peace, why was it so? What is now missing and what are we supposed to do? We need to evaluate things today and do what we ought to do, no matter how tough,” he added.
Governor Yahaya recounted how some people, affected by the ban on metal scrap dealings, had lobbied religious leaders against it, claiming it was their livelihood.
The governor noted that the measure aims to improve security, curb frequent motorcycle theft, and restore peace.
Yahaya also lamented the indiscriminate vandalism of critical infrastructure.
He said the newly built N26 billion Muhammadu Buhari industrial park in the state has not been spared, with electrical installations from Dadin Kowa dam tampered with and some equipment stolen.
On the palliative distribution exercise, Yahaya said it targets 70,000 beneficiaries, including the physically challenged, religious organizations, orphanages, party support groups, and other vulnerable members of the community.
He urged the palliative distribution committee to ensure transparency and fairness.
“The items must be distributed within the next three days, including rice, macaroni, spaghetti, oil, sugar, among other items,” he said.
