20 girls and 14 boys, including minors have been arrested and paraded in Gombe State over illicit dance entertainment by officers and men of the Gombe State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday at the state command headquarters, the NSCDC Commandant, Waziri Goni, said the suspects posed immorality and a serious security threat, adding that the command had so far closed 10 dance houses across the state.

He revealed that aside from being involved in illicit dance, the entertainment house served as an avenue for young girls to practise prostitution, stressing that many of them came from neighbouring states.

Goni said, “They call the place Gidan gala, but they have their boyfriends; they will go with them. About 95 per cent of them are teenagers; hardly will you find 20 to 22-year-old youths and the place has been existing for a long time. For the owners, they registered the place for trading and merchandise and now they operate as a hotel and playground.”

The commandant disclosed that some of the suspects were married for about one week before shunning their marital vows to come to Gombe State.

He added, “They are from Adamawa, Borno, Plateau, Taraba; most of them are from the North-East, just one or two came from Kaduna and Jos. If we don’t deal with this issue, it will jeopardise and create problems for the entire population.

“It is a serious threat. These are things that give rise to kidnapping, robbery and cultism. Some are being lured and killed, others hide under the pretext of the play to commit crimes.

The Manager of Gidan Lokachi, Danladi Mohammed, denied any wrongdoing, adding that participants were duly screened before being allowed in.

Mohammed said, “They come themselves. If they are not married, they will be allowed to perform; we don’t accept minors.”