Kano Government reforms ex-thugs with skills, cash, hope
By Kola Oyelere, Kano
The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its determination to rehabilitate and empower youths who have renounced thuggery under its Safe Corridor Peace and Reintegration Programme, offering them new opportunities for skill acquisition, financial support, and social reintegration.
However, over 1,600 ex-thugs have already been screened and enrolled into the programme, while another 2,100 are expected to join in the coming weeks.
Making this known during a reception organized for reformed youths in Kano, the Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, said the initiative reflects Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s commitment to building a safer, more inclusive society by transforming repentant youths into productive citizens.
He explained that after completing orientation and moral reformation sessions, beneficiaries will be presented to the governor for the official launch of empowerment packages that include vocational training tools and financial support.
“These young people possess great potential to contribute meaningfully to society if given the right opportunities. The government is committed to ensuring that their rehabilitation leads to lasting peace and self-reliance,” Waiya stated.
The commissioner also assured that the Yusuf administration would continue to prioritize youth empowerment and peace-building efforts, stressing that genuine repentance and good conduct would be rewarded with sustained government support.
Representing the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aliyu Harazimi commended the government’s initiative and advised the reformed youths to remain steadfast in their commitment to moral discipline and integrity. He noted that embracing positive values would prevent them from returning to crime and help foster lasting peace in the state.
The event marks the third engagement of the Safe Corridor Peace Committee with beneficiaries, underscoring the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure full implementation of promises made to the reformed youths.
Through this initiative, the Kano State Government aims to replace the cycle of thuggery with one of hope, skills, and sustainable livelihoods—turning former street enforcers into active partners in peace and development.