- Offers scholarship, skill acquisition for their rehabilitation.
The Executive Chairman of Adavi local government council, Hon. Joseph Omuya Salami has pardoned 15 teenage fraternity members arrested by men of the Kogi State Vigilante Group.
The fraternity members, aged between 14-18 years, were apprehended by the vigilante group in their hideout where they claimed that they were holding a meeting, planning on how to throw a birthday party for their friend.
Some were identified to be members of fraternity groups known as “Deaf Ear” and “Aro Baggar”.
According to the community source, the teenagers were caught vandalizing a school in the community, taking away some valuable items.
The source lamented that the children who were supposed to be in school are fond of wandering about, taking hard drugs.
At a meeting involving parents of the teenagers in the council secretariat on Thursday, Hon. Salami said after a careful an thorough investigation to understand the reasons behind their societal misconduct and how they can be reformed, he discovered that most of them were initiated into bad groups because of idleness while some are orphans who could not afford their school fees.
Hon. Joseph Omuya seized the opportunity to advise every parents and guardians, particularly mothers, to always look after their children, pay strict attention to their activities at homes and in schools, and always be a replica of who they want them to be.
The Council Boss directed that four amongst them who were supposed to sit for their WASSCE but were unable to because of financial constraints be registered for NECO examination with immediate effect. He pledged to foot the bills.
He also paid school fees for two of them who are in JSS3 and SS2, and awarded the one in JSS3 full scholarship till he finish his secondary school because of the boy’s predicament and his passion for education.
He promised to engage the rest of them who were not willing to return to school in different skills of their choices.
The council chairman, however, instructed the Vigilante commandant to take the leader of the group back for further questioning.
“I am preaching the gospel of his Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello who so much believes that the future of any society depends on the youths and so youths should be treated with special attention. I care so much about your future, wellbeing, and will always continue to discourage you against bad company and activities that are capable of destroying your future. Please, stay focused and don’t destroy your future with your hand,” he said.
The parents and guardians expressed gratitude to Governor and the Local Government Chairman for their benevolent gesture and service to humanity.
