Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has approved the employment of 100 unemployed graduates from Biu Local Government Area in a fresh push to curb youth restiveness, political thuggery and related social vices across the state.

Zulum announced the initiative during a visit to the Emir of Biu, Alhaji Mustapha Mustapha II, while on a tour of Southern Borno for the flag-off of the wet farming season and the sale of subsidised fertiliser to smallholder and returnee farmers.

The governor said the new jobs are part of a broader strategy to offer young people viable alternatives to crime and political violence, noting that while incidents of thuggery have declined under his administration, unemployment remains a key driver of insecurity.

Under the plan, each local government area in Borno will have 50 graduates absorbed into government service, while larger councils such as Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere, Bama, Askira/Uba and Gwoza will each receive 100 slots. Biu, he said, will serve as a flagship for the expanded intake, with priority given to graduates in health-related disciplines, English, Mathematics and Physics.

Zulum stressed that empowering youths is essential to breaking the cycle in which politicians and criminal networks recruit jobless young men as foot soldiers. He pointedly observed that the children of top political figures are rarely seen among street thugs, arguing that this disparity underscores the need for government-led intervention.

The governor also issued a stern warning against vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly electricity installations, promising that anyone caught sabotaging such facilities would face prosecution. He appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to work closely with the government in confronting drug abuse, gangsterism and other forms of antisocial behaviour.

Addressing the Emir, Zulum said the state must act decisively to protect the next generation, combining security measures with economic opportunities and moral guidance. He urged Biu leaders to help identify unemployed graduates, including those previously involved in political thuggery, who are willing to embrace legitimate work.

The employment drive forms part of a wider package of empowerment programmes tied to agricultural support, as the state seeks to stabilise communities recovering from years of insurgency by boosting food production and creating jobs.

Residents were encouraged to support the reforms and to pray for leaders capable of sustaining policies that prioritise youth development and social stability.