The Kano State Government has revealed that plans are underway to grant amnesty to repentant thugs in the state.

The State’s Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, announced this during the launch of the profiling exercise for those who have laid down their arms under the Safe Corridor initiative.

Waiya said about 718 young people have already been profiled for the program, while another 960 are waiting to be documented after surrendering their weapons.

He explained that Governor Abba Yusuf started the Safe Corridor scheme to deal with the rising issue of thuggery in Kano, which he described as damaging to the state’s image.

According to him, the government believes using a peaceful and non-violent method to engage these youths will help solve the problem. He stressed that thuggery has become a concern for every resident in Kano, which is why the governor is determined to end it.

The Commissioner added that the process involves police profiling, drug tests by the NDLEA, medical checks, and rehabilitation before reintegration into society as productive citizens.

He also pointed out that many of the youths did not willingly choose crime but were misled into it by selfish politicians. He said the administration will not allow this to continue and is committed to ending the problem completely before the governor’s tenure ends.

Waiya further explained that once the governor officially grants amnesty, the youths will be cleared of all past crimes and treated as law-abiding citizens.

On his part, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, appealed to those still holding on to weapons to surrender and embrace peace. He warned that a life of violence only brings pain, regret, and destruction to individuals, their families, and their communities.

Bakori said the Safe Corridor program offers a second chance to start fresh and become useful members of society. He urged the youths to take the opportunity seriously, assuring that the police will continue to support government efforts to rehabilitate and empower them.

Similarly, the Hisbah Commander-General, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, encouraged the repentant thugs to assist security agents with information that could help arrest drug dealers. He also urged them to reach out to their colleagues still involved in crime and convince them to surrender.