The Taskforce On Closure Of Gala Houses and Joints in Gombe State has warned miscreant against illegal demolition of innocent houses in the state.
The warning was contained in a statement signed and made available to Jewel Times by the chairman of the taskforce Group Captain Peter Bilal (Rtd).
Bilal said “The Taskforce has observed that some miscreants have embarked on demolitions and lootings on some houses located at different areas of Gombe metropolis. The general public should note that the Taskforce did not authorise such act by these miscreants. It therefore issued warning to all persons involved in such acts to desist from this unlawful behaviors or face the wrath of the law”.
He said following its meeting held at its secretariat, on 13th February, 2024, the Taskforce on the Closure of all Gala Houses and Joints in Gombe State observed that:
There are still the reports of the activities of some unlawful establishments: Gala Houses, Brothels and unlicensed night clubs within Gombe State where illegal and immoral activities take place and are used as sanctuaries for criminal elements.
These activities are in spite of the efforts of the Task Force in organizing and holding consultative meetings with the leadership of the Hoteliers, Proprietors/Managers of all the Hotels and Traditional Rulers of the affected communities with a view to informing the Hoteliers and Proprietors of Joints to desist from harboring drug peddlers, criminal fugitives and under aged males/females who patronize their establishments to carry out their heinous acts and immoral activities. This is even despite the earlier Press Releases number 1 and 2 issued on 11/1/2014 and 3/2/2024 by the Task Force.
In continued compliance with the executive order No. 006 of 2023 and to allow for fair hearing, the Task Force invited the Proprietors/Managers of some of the affected hotels/brothels along with the members of the host communities for thorough investigation on the alleged drug peddling, immoral/criminal activities and public nuisance. During its continued investigations, the Task Force has discovered that some of these establishments in question are still used to harbor fugitives from justice, propagate illegal and immoral activities and they were suspended on 12/2/2024 from operation until final investigation by the Task Force.
The suspended Hotels were the following:
i. Evergreen Hotel behind army barracks
ii. Dureja Hotel behind army barracks
iii. Sharp Corner at Railway Junction
iv. Fina Lodge at Anguwan Waja
v. Runko Hotel at Tunfure; and
vi. Zuma Royal Hotel at Tunfure
It was in spite of this suspension, the aforementioned hotels continued with their heinous activities of harboring under aged persons, drug abusers and criminal elements.
It is in view of the above and the several notices issued to the hoteliers and operators of these houses to stop/desist from such activities that the Task Force carried out the demolitions in Evergreen Hotel, Dureja Hotel and Sharp Corner Hotel, while partial demolition was carried out on Fina Lodge located at Anguwan Waja and Runko Hotel at Tunfure on 14/2/2024.
The chairman added that the Taskforce will continue to monitor the activities of the hospitality industry to ensure compliance with the Executive Order No. 006 of 2023.