COVID-19: Plateau state government to go tough on lockdown defaulters – Hon Dan Manjang
May 14, 2020
The attention of the Plateau State Government has been drawn to the flagrant disregard to government orders with regards to Corona Virus (COVID-19). Notable is the Presidential order which imposed a curfew on the country lasting between 8.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m each day! It is in this light therefore, that the Plateau State Government issues this reminder that the curfew so imposed is sill in force and should be strictly observed until otherwise reviewed, failure of which culprits should have themselves to blame.
Furthermore, the state government hereby reminds it’s citizen that the wearing of masks is mandatory and should be ruthlessly enforced by the security agents saddled which such responsibility. Government has also utterly noted with dismay, an emerging culture which negates all intents and purposes in the name of jogging where people come out in their hundreds with total disregard to not only social distancing but in defiance of the lock down order. Government would like to advice those involved to desist failure of which this act will be treated as an affront to constituted authority. There are many ways you can exercise yourself without provocating and or testing the the will of government. Government means well for its citizens at all times but it will not fold its arms and watch its orders being disregarded with ignominy. Let us team up with government in this fight against the pandemic that is threatening to engulf mankind.
LET’S THINK PLATEAU AND ACT PLATEAU.
Dan Manjang, Honourable Commissioner of Information and Communication, Plateau State. 13th May, 2020.
JUSTICE FOR MR RINJI PETER BALA, JUSTICE FOR PLATEAU STATE.
I am deeply sad by the news of the killing of Mr Rinji Peter Bala in Jos Plateau State by a security personnel of the Special Task Force(STF), Plateau State.
It is sickening to note that the 300 level university student was not killed by the dreaded Covid-19 which an attempt to protect him from brought him back home from school but by a bullet deliberately shot at him by a trigger happy security personnel within the Security Taskforce Camp.
I join millions of well meaning Nigerians in condemning this dastardly act which has added to the already swollen record of high rate of extra judicial killings of innocent Nigerians by the people who are paid to protect them.
One is further saddened that excuses are heard daily for the inability of security agents to reap off Plateau State communities and many parts of Nigeria of the real criminals terrorizing them.
For a Plateau man, it’s a triple jeopardy; the killing of the youths by overzealous security men posted to protect them in the state or the inability of the security to protect the destruction of lives and property in the communities or the killings and ambushing of Plateau State combatants serving with security agencies in other states by terrorists or their colleagues.
I wish that the true representatives of Nigerians in Government, human rights bodies and indeed concerned Nigerians will not just stop at condemning this heinous criminal acts against innocent citizens but take further step towards following up on the investigation, prosecution and adequate compensation of victims.
May God comfort the family of Mr Peter Bala, University of Jos staff and students, Plateau people and government, friends and relations of Mr Rinji Peter.
The living must collectively act now before it’s too late to be part of the solution.
ONE DAY THERE WILL BE NO SHOCK, NO SADNESS TO EXPRESS AND NOTHING TO CONDEMN AGAIN AS THE KILLINGS ARE BECOMING NORMAL!
What else can one say and how can one explain the killing of Rinji Bala at the premises of those who are constitutionally and professionally mandated and paid to protect us?
Everyday we wake up to one bad news or the other. When will we hear one good news that will cheer us up and give us hope and faith in our security system? The brutality meted on citizens seems to suggest that most of our security personnel are frustrated and overwhelmed by the security challenges that they cannot distinguish between grass and weed, a criminal and an innocent citizen. As the Hausa adage says; “Komi da lauje ya samu ciyawa ne,” meaning everything a sickle finds is grass, there is no killing of human life that will be claimed to have been done in error.
Thus, the killing of Rinji Bala must not be admitted as done in error just as ignorance will not be admitted in a court of law.
The killing of Rinji even if he was a suspect, was not civil and justifiable.
The conscious ongoing killings in some parts of Plateau and Kaduna states are unbearable and seem to leave the citizens in a state of fear and hopelessness.
Until the authorities are bold enough to punish offenders its citizens will continue to live in delusions. More so the case of shooting Rinji is not by an unknown gunmen as the narrative has always been which led to no arrest of criminals.
However, we commend the OPSH for owning up to the dastardly, criminally and unprofessional manner in which one of their officers acted resulting in terminating the life and hope of Rinji. We demand that appropriate punishment should be publicly meted out to the culprit to deter others from the misuse of guns with live ammunition.
We call on the Government to ensure that proper investigation is carried out and the findings be made public to show that it is on top of security.
We call on all those who legitimately hold guns to be professional and civil in the use of their weapons and not for indiscriminate shootings of citizens.
We sincerely sympathise with and condole the family of Bala and the Ngas nation over the irreparable loss, with the prayer that God will comfort and give them his sufficient grace to bear the painful killing.
We equally commend the Plateau State Government for its quick response and the promise to take more proactive measures for justice to prevail.
We joined many sympathisers on the killings in Gonan Rogo village near Makyali in Kufana District of Kajuru Local Government in Kaduna State.
We equally call on Plateau citizens to abide by the directives of the lockdown to avoid being victims of COVID-19, and to also watch out as robbers are prowling to steal.
CAN wishes all Plateau citizens safety and good health and admonishes them to always be their neighbours keepers.
Signed: Rev Dr Soja Bewarang Chairman CAN Plateau State Chapter
The Member Representing Pankshin,Kanke and Kanam(PKK) federal constituency in the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi has expressed sadness and grief over the gruesome killing of one his very young and vibrant constituent, Master Rinji Bala by a ” trigger happy ” personnel of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) Sector 1 Headquarters ,Monday 12th May,2020 who incidentally was commissioned into the Military Police to protect lives and properties of citizens of our dear State and Country including that of Late Rinji Bala. Gagdi expressed his despondence through his Senior Legislative Aide(SLA) Pharmacist Mizim Dagung Haruna saying this sad incident is one too many of reported cases of unprofessional conducts/engagements by security personnel who have been tasked with the enforcement of Government policies as it relates to the Management of the Covid 19 pandemic in our State and Nation. The Federal Lawmaker who is the House Committee Chairman on the Nigerian Navy has called for a thorough investigation by the top echelon of the OPSH Sector 1 Headquarters to unravel the person (s) involved and be made to face the full wrath of the law. The Member wishes to extend his condolences to Mr&Mrs Peter Bala Family and their loved ones, Ngas Nation and indeed all Plateau Students/Youth over this very unfortunate incidence ,praying God to grant them the fortitude and grace to bear the loss. He also admonished all to continue to be law abiding and obey Governments instructions in the management of the Covid 19 Pandemic..
Rest on Rinji Bala
Signed; Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, (Dan Malikin Kanam, Dan Majen Jahr), Member PKK.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Wednesday transferred five female officers from their base after they participated in the ”Bop Daddy challenge” initiated by Falz the Bad Guy.”
The immigration had in April queried the officers in question — Priscilla Irabor, Catherine J. Bakura, Blessing Alfred Udida, Binti I. Attabor, and Ockiya Eneni —for participating in the challenge while in uniform.
The ladies were accused of flaunting of their bodies and desecration of the Service uniform.
In the letter titled: Senior Staff Posting Order and dated May 12, 2020, Irabor was transfered from the Lagos State Command to the Nigeria Immigration Training School, Kano; Attabor from the Service Headquarters in Abuja to Yobe State Command while Eneni was moved from the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card production facility to the Borno State Command.
Udida was transferred from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command to the Akwa Ibom State Command while Bakura was transferred from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to the Nigeria Immigration Training School Ahoada, Rivers State.
The officers, according to the letter, are expected to relocate to their new stations within seven days.
Symbolically to your nation and race, *RINJI…!* Your name, which is figurative to mean, *SHADE* to your family and everyone you come across in life. It was not just a name but a phenomenon believed by your parents. Hence to say, the vacuum your dead has created cannot be filled.
The youth council is perturbed by this gruesome murder and the way your life was cut short. The avoidable lawless acts by the security of late which leads to ending of people lives especially the youths is one too many to mention. It’s clear, that the security agencies which are meant to safeguard lives and property have turned against us and have become terrorists, waging terror and inflicting pain on us when refuge is what we seek upon their shoulders.
*RINJI!* As every other Nigerian youth deserves the right to life and at most should be tried for any illegal act and convicted if found guilty. Unfortunately he was murdered by agents of the law. His life was taken at his prime, being gruesomely murdered by one who is supposed to protect him against all odds.
We the Plateau youth council, Kanke LGA demand justice for our dear brother. We demand that the officer responsible should be brought to face the law immediately. We demand that Operation Safe Heaven, Plateau State and the Government should ensure that justice is served. The blood of our brother cries. All we ask for is justice; justice for Rinji Peter Bala. Justice for all. We join thousands of mourners to condole with the family, friends and well wishes over the unfortunate incident.
The Member representing Jos South/Jos East in the Federal House of Representatives, Rep. Dachung Musa Bagos has decried the alleged extrajudicial killing of one of his constituents, Rinji Peter.
Just yesterday 12th May, 2020, the member co-sponsored a bill urgently calling for an immediate stoppage of Human rights abuses and extrajudicial killing.
The sponsors of the bill, Hon. Nkeiruka C. Onyejeocha and co-sponsor, Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos both decried the increasing wave of criminality against Nigerian citizens whose lives they (security operatives) were ironically tasked with protecting.
“Security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, the military and para-military agencies were saddled with the responsibility of enforcing compliance with the lockdown within the limits of their rules of engagement having regard for human the rights of the citizens.”
The member regretted “that within the initial period of the lockdown, security operatives had, according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC); extrajudicially killed 18 innocent Nigerians in Abia, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau and Niger States.”
The member is therefore calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct heads of security agencies implicated in the human rights abuses and killing of innocent Nigerians to immediately fish out the perpetrators for prosecution and punishment according to law;
He advocates that the House of Representatives Committees on Police Affairs, Defence, Interior and Human Rights to investigate the abuses, killings and their prosecution.
It will be recalled that a similar situation happened sometimes last year where a young man was allegedly shot dead by a security agent for not paying for a N50 egg.
The member sympathises with the family of Mr. Rinji Peter & may God comfort the entire family.
Signed: Danja Dafwam Yakubu For: Dachung Musa Bagos, Member, House of Representatives, Abuja
Jos is thrown into mourning as a young undergraduate Rinji Bala was gruesomely murdered by trigger happy soldiers amidst the lockdown yesterday.
The online Community in Jos is awashed with pictures of the young man as youth activist and contemporaries of the deceased are bracing for a showdown with the military if the culprit is not fished out within 48hours as similar incidences have happened in the past with no action taken.
Prince miaphen a youth leader and social media influence took to his Facebook page to send the message across;
“MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN JOS SHOULD PRODUCE THE KILLERS OF THIS YOUNG BOY WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS OR FACE THE MOTHERS OF ALL PROTESTS ON THE PLATEAU….
Master Rinji Bala, is a 300 level Student of Unijos. Only Male Child of his Parents, 20 years of Age.
Shut down by the Military Personnel’s attached to his area around Hwolse in Jos for Flouting the lockdown directives imposed by the State Government for COVID 19.
We are Calling On all Relevant Authorities to fish out all those who are involved in the gruesome murder of this young boy and bring them to book between the next 48 hours or else face the Mother of all protest on the Plateau by the Coalition of all YOUTH & STUDENTS bodies in Plateau State….
Patriots Unite it’s Time for STRUGGLE….
JUSTICEFORRINJI……
CC
PYC
NANS
NAPSS
A Social Media Activist and a Student of University Of Jos Chamdang Bako wrote;
“This is what I call professional negligence, calculated murder and national unpatroitism by the killee…
See how they have written beautifully and absolved themselves from blames….
Anyway, justice must be meted and served.
Sentries have direct communication with duty room and command so that if they observe danger whether close or afar, they can alert the command center.
The excuse of sentry is dead on arrival…. Are they not supposed to even escort the 5 people out of the vicinity to a far off point??
They should look for another excuse while we await the punishment to be meted on the personnel publicly, if the STF is to win back our trust and confidence.
Chamzy
Operation Safe Haven has issued a statement earlier narrating how the young undergraduate was shot;
OPSH REGRETS THE UNFORTUNATE DEATH OF CIVILIAN ON 12 MAY 2020
Operation SAFE HAVE HAVEN regrets the unfortunate death of a civilian by name Mr Rinji Peter Bala by its personnel.
At about 10pm on 12 May 2020, information was received on the activities of suspected armed robbers and cultists operating around No 18th Street, Jos South LGA of Plateau State. The report revealed that the criminals took advantage of the lockdown and curfew to perpetrate crimes. Consequently, Sector 1 patrol troops of OPSH swiftly responded and arrested 7 suspects, which were immediately moved to the Headquarters Sector 1 for preliminary investigation. Thereafter, 5 out of the 7 suspects were cleared and asked to leave the premises. Unfortunately as they were leaving the premises, one of the personnel on sentry duty mistook them for escaping suspects. Thus opened fire on them, which led to the death of Mr Rinji Bala.
However, a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile the MOPOL personnel involved in the incident has been arrested and detained accordingly.
Operation SAFE HAVEN has condemned the sad incident. Representative of OPSH has also visited the parents of the deceased to commiserate with them. OPSH also assures the general public of justice.
Ibrahim Shittu Major Media Officer, Operation SAFE HAVEN
The youths are United in asking that Justice must be done to serve as deterrant to others.
Governor Simon Lalong expresses shock and sadness over the death of Mr. Rinji Peter Bala, who was said to have been shot by security personnel along Zaria Road, Jos on 12th May 2020. Consequently, he has directed that thorough investigation be carried out to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing of the young man. He assures that those found culpable will face the law of the land. Already, a security personel alleged to have been involved in the incident has been taken into custody for further investigation. The Governor appeals for calm and commiserates with the family of the late Rinji Bala. Meanwhile, Governor Lalong has appealed to citizens to continue to observe the lockdown directives put in place towards curbing COVID-19.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR. Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 13th May 2020.
PRESS RELEASE BY NGAS YOUTH MOVEMENT ISSUED IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE CAPITAL ON 13TH May,2020*
HOW MANY MORE RINJI’S WILL BE KILLED IN COLD BLOOD? The National Executive Council of Ngas Youth Movement is saddened by the news of the murder of a young, vibrant Ngas Youth, Rinji Peter Bala, a 300-level student of History and International Studies, University of Jos. This sad event happened yesterday, 12th May 2020 in Jos.
The alleged crime of this young man is that he’s among a group that stole a phone. The question we want to ask is, when has the military become the accuser, prosecutor and executor of laws in Nigeria? Ngas Youths worldwide vehemently condemn in it’s totality this unprofessional and unlawful action of these killers in military uniform and make the following demands:
All the officers involved in this annoying and illegal act should be arrested and dismissed from the Military.
They should be immediately charged to court for 1st Degree murder and jailed.
A letter of apology should be written to the family of the slain Rinji from the highest Military hierachy.
A substantial Financial support should be given to the Rinji’s family.
In the meantime, Ngas Youths will not fold it’s arms and allow this action to go unpunished. We assure all Ngas Youths that we are doing all we can in partnership with other well-meaning individuals and groups until Rinji gets justice. Please ensure you remain safe and obey constituted authority as we fight the Corona Virus Pandemic.
Thank you all.
Andrew Amos Gogwim (JP) National Publicity Secretary
