Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, says the ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the state is still on.

The governor spoke on Tuesday at the inauguration of the reconstituted committee on revocation of illegal hotels, brothels, shanties and criminal hideouts. 

The event held at the council chamber of the government house in Maiduguri.

Zulum said the ban on sale and consumption of alcohol stems from increasing cases of conflict among rival groups, cultism, prostitution, drug abuse, thuggery, and theft, which have led to loss of lives and valuables in Borno.

He also blamed the military for the proliferation of certain vices.

“I am happy to know that army officers are here, especially the military, police, and others are here because most of these activities were committed by whom? Some of them are dismissed army officers, dismissed security officers, current army officers, men and officers, including civilians,” he said.

“So, there should be no sacred cow in this matter if we want the Maiduguri metropolis and indeed the state to get rid of insurgency, terrorism and other sorts of criminalities.

“Ban on sale of liquor in Maiduguri is still in force, and there is an Act on this effect by the state house of assembly.”

The governor charged the reconstituted committee to cleanse the state of all forms of criminality and anti-social vices.

Members of the reconstituted committee include the military, police, civil defence, joint task force (JTF), and other security agencies.

In January 2017, the state government announced a ban on the sale of alcohol and prostitution.

The government also prohibited brothels and other spots where prostitution, sale and consumption of illicit drugs take place.

[TheCable]