The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Zamfara State Chapter, considers it necessary to address the public regarding the recent incident involving officials of the Zamfara State Road Traffic Agency (ZAROTA) and a young resident of the state, which came to public attention following the circulation of a video that went viral on social media.
As the umbrella body that represents the collective interests and welfare of young people in Zamfara State, the Youth Council has a responsibility to intervene in matters that touch on the rights, dignity, and well-being of the youth.
A statement signed by the Public Relations officer of the Council, Comrade Abdulrazak Bello Kaura, said following the emergence of the video, the leadership of the Youth Council immediately engaged relevant stakeholders to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident.
It said Available information indicates that the incident occurred during the routine statewide environmental sanitation exercise, during which movement and commercial activities are restricted until 10:00 a.m. to enable residents to participate in sanitation activities.
It was gathered that a shop was opened before the permitted time, contrary to the sanitation regulations in force. In the course of enforcing compliance, officials reportedly moved to confiscate items from the shop.
During this process, the young man involved intervened which led to a misunderstanding between him and the enforcement team.
The situation subsequently escalated, resulting in an altercation during which the young man was subjected to excessive force and later arraigned before a mobile court where he was fined before his release.
While the NYCN recognizes the importance of complying with government regulations, including environmental sanitation directives, the Youth Council emphasizes that the enforcement of such regulations must at all times be conducted in a manner consistent with the law and respectful of the fundamental rights and dignity of citizens.
The Youth Council therefore expresses concern over the manner in which the situation was handled by the officials involved, particularly the reported use of excessive force during the enforcement process.
In line with its mandate to safeguard the interests of young people in the state, the NYCN Zamfara State Chapter will formally communicate its concerns to the leadership of the Zamfara State Road Traffic Agency.
Accordingly, the Council calls on the management of the agency to:
1. Conduct a thorough internal review of the conduct of the officers involved.
2. Take appropriate disciplinary measures where necessary to ensure accountability.
3. Strengthen the training and retraining of enforcement personnel, particularly in areas relating to professional conduct, conflict management, and respect for human rights.
The Council believes that these measures will help reinforce professionalism in enforcement operations and strengthen public confidence in the agency.
The NYCN Zamfara State Chapter reiterates that while compliance with lawful government regulations remains the responsibility of every citizen, enforcement actions must always be carried out within the bounds of the law and with due regard for the dignity of the people.
The Council remains committed to constructive engagement with relevant authorities in order to promote responsible governance, protect the rights of young people, and maintain peaceful relations between public institutions and the communities they serve.
The Council called on the young people across the state to remain law-abiding and to cooperate with authorities during official civic exercises, including environmental sanitation activities.
