By Yunusa Isa, Gombe
The Gombe State Rice Processors Association has strengthen relationship with the state’s police command to ensure safety of members, strengthen security and fish out bad elements in the industry.
Speaking about the newly introduced night movement restrictions when he received the State Commander Special Weapon and Tactical (SWAT) Squad at his office, Industrial Clusters Nasarawo Quarters, the state chairman of the association Alhaji Lawan Yusuf appealed to the police and Gombe State Government to consider their members who work at night.
“We usually work till late night, and our members find it difficult to return home when security agencies are out to enforce compliance on the new directive. We hereby appeal to the state government and security agencies especially you the police, to consider our members who may be on transit to or from home for work.
The chairman said they are going to provide a means of identification for their night service members for easy recognition.
While appreciating the state government for providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, Alhaji Lawan commended security agencies for being on their toes in ensuring safety and security of citizens.
In his contribution, the Organizing Secretary of the association, Alhaji Shehu Muhammad Izala, said the association is ready to provide ID cards for members working during the night hours for easy identification.
He said “In a cluster like this rice processors where thousands of young people are being engaged, there must be presence of security personnel for orderliness”.
On his part, the Vice Chairman Rice Buyers Onitsha Line, Alhaji Usman Ɗankwadan, said security presence can prevent the appearance of informants who may sneak into the cluster to perpetrate their evil acts.
He stressed support to the chairman Alhaji Lawan Yusuf, maintaining that his leadership style has been effective in bringing new development to the cluster.
In his remark, the commander Special Weapon and Tactical Squad SP Ibrahim Tukur, assured the rice processors of police continuous support, maintaining that SWAT is always ready to protect lives and property of the citizenry across the state.
“We are out to maintain law and order, and I can assure you that the way I see things in this cluster is so interesting, you engage a lot of youths, which to my estimate can not be less than 15,000. So you shelved a significant burden on government by engaging this youths, you make them productive to the economy, and you contributed in lessening crime and criminality there by making our task even more easier”.
SP Tukur sought for support and cooperation of the rice processors in combating crimes in the cluster and the state, maintaining that with their presence in the cluster, criminals must have their ways out if there are any.
In their respective goodwill messages on behalf of elders and youths of the cluster, Alhaji Ibrahim Ismail Jarmiya and Babawuro Ibrahim appreciated the leadership of the cluster for being proactive in promoting the interest of theirs members.
They assured of support to the leadership fort he progress of the cluster.
