The Special Task Force in charge of security in Plateau in conjunction with the Plateau State Government has rehabilitated, trained and set up businesses for repentant Sara – Suka youths in Jos.
Commander of the task force known as Operation Safe Haven, Major General Augustine Agundu said they would support willing repentant youths with the qualification to join the military and paramilitary services.
Agundu said that the rehabilitation programme was to encourage youths to unconditionally denounce their engagements in all forms of social vices.
He said, “These youths sitting before you, have successfully undergone an intensive three-week rehabilitation and skills acquisition programme and are ready to be reintegrated in their communities as responsible and productive citizens.
“Also, business concerns have been established for them to enable them to start businesses and earn a living.
“Perhaps they could be employers of labour in no distant time”.
Noting that the businesses are being established in their communities, Agundu said it is for all to appreciate the efforts being made by state government to ensure that the youths lived a life devoid of crime.
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He added that it is the desire of both the Task Force and the Plateau state government that the programme could generate necessary ripple effect across the communities to encourage erring youths to embrace pure civility for the good of the society.
He pointed out that the operation observed that the plight of the large youth population had remained inimical to full actualisation of its mandate.
Emphasixing that youths have been misguided and misused over a long period such that indulgence in the varying social vices had become a norm, he challenged well meaning citizens to stand up and be counted as an advocate for peaceful coexistence and change agents.
Brig.-Gen. Umar Mohammed, Garrison Commander, 3 Division Nigerian Army Rukuba, advised the youths to be patient in life.
Mohammed also advised the youths not to destroy their lives by taking substances that could ruin them.
Air Commodore Kabir Aliyu, Commander, 551 Station Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Jos, told the youth to cherish their new status in society and guard it jealousy.
Aliyu said that he would liaise with security agencies to help those who wished to join either military or paramilitary.
One of the repentant youth, Ahmad Mohammed, thanked the OPSH for bringing his life back on track.
He confessed that he was involved in many social vices prior to the intervention and assured that he would make judicious use of the opportunity and not to return to his old ways.
At the occasion, Gen Agundu inaugurated one of the shops set up for the repentant youths.
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