The Kano state Security Council has declared phone snatching as armed robbery, and that any individual or group caught in the act will be treated as armed robbers.
The outgoing commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano on Sunday.
He said the council, which was presided over by the outgoing governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, during its valedictory session, noted the crime in recent times had reached a worrisome proportion, hence calling for drastic measures to tackle it.
Mr Garba also stated that the council had agreed to put in place a special squad within the security system to deal with the menace and other acts of criminality in the state.
The commissioner added that the council, while deliberating on the swearing in of the new governor said that all necessary measures had been taken to ensure peaceful ceremonies.
He warned miscreants who might use the occasion to cause violence in the name of celebrations to refrain from such act.
“Destruction of properties belonging to the public, individual or the opposition will not be tolerated as adequate measures have been taken to deal with such act decisively,” the statement added.
He said during the meeting, Mr Ganduje reiterated the need for a smooth transition of power in the state, calling for a peaceful ceremony.
“He thanked the security agencies in the state for all the cooperation extended to him throughout his tenure and urged them to maintain the tempo.
“The meeting was attended by virtually all the heads of the security agencies and other members of the council,” he added.
