Plateau State Governor. Simon Lalong says all those involved in perpetrating crisis in any part of the State, would be prosecuted.

The Governor made the declaration in Abuja on Tuesday, while speaking to State House Correspondents, after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Governor announced that the security situation in the State has greatly improved and very soon, the curfew imposed on troubled areas would be further relaxed.

He said: “What we are doing is to ensure that there is proper investigation and prosecution. You know, both the Soldiers and Police are controlled by the Presidency and right now they are diligently working in my state on a daily basis.

“That is why on the first day, I announced a 24-hour curfew but I kept on relaxing it. By the grace of even this week, the curfew would further be relaxed, so that people can carry out their normal activities. We are the only state that has a peace building agency set up by the State government and it is the only State that for now has established an interreligious council. These are all the efforts that we have done and within a short time, peace has returned to Plateau State.”

Governor Lalong said President Buhari promised him that support would be given to victims of the recent clashes in the State, currently displaced.

“I also made a request to the President about relieve materials and also still re-echoed the issue of resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) We have a lot if IDPs in my State, we have a lot on our hands already and when such happens, you expect the State to seek for support for relieve materials. We are doing our best but the President said he will talk to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, so that attention would be given to those who are displaced as a result of this crisis.

“For over six years now, we have been enjoying peace in Plateau State so, anybody that wants to take Plateau back to those old days of crisis, it is not only me as Governor but all Plateau people will resist that. They have said ‘we don’t want to go back to crisis again, we are enjoying peace and we want to continue to enjoy our peace.’” the Governor added.

The Plateau State Governor used the occasion to appeal for calm and restraint, adding that those calling for reprisals do not mean well for the State.

“Again, I want to appeal to people because most of those who are outside the state calling for reprisal are not people from Plateau State. I am yet to see one cleric coming out to say I want reprisal. I have set up an interreligious committee, which comprises all top religious leaders in Plateau State, both Muslims and Christians and when things like this happen, they address it.

“So for people to call from outside the State for reprisal, I say no because they are crying more than the bereaved; leave us. We are handling our issue, we are doing reconciliation and consultations don’t call for reprisal attacks. If you want to do a reprisal, you are on your own. We have agreed with the religious leaders and all of them are doing their best, they are cooperating with the State and we are also doing our best,” he said.

The Governor said Plateau State Government had since given support to survivors of the skirmish that happened in the State on Saturday August 14, when over 20 travelers form Ondo State were killed.

“When this happened, we had to go to Ondo but in so many places that is unusual, but we took all of them that we rescued and treated and went there with a powerful team led by the Deputy Governor of Plateau State with all religious leaders to Ondo to sympathize with the State. Their Governor also said they will also send a team to come and appreciate what we have done.

“The remaining things we need to do are to continue with reconciliation and dialogue. We are the only state that has a peace building agency set up by the State government and it is the only State that for now has established an interreligious committee. These are the things we did for peace to return within a short period of time but that does not mean that we are sleeping on fishing out the perpetrators of these criminal acts,” he said.

Economic Summit

Lalong said Plateau State was already preparing to host its first economic summit, when the recent crisis broke out, adding that the State is determined to host the summit, so as to confirm that peace has returned to the State.

“While this was happening, we were also very prepared for the first economic summit in Plateau State and we are still ready for that, so that people will not be discouraged from coming to Plateau. If the reason for somebody is to discourage people from investing in Plateau State, we will do our best to counter that and so, we are going ahead with our economic summit while we also go ahead with consultations and harmonization of ideas on daily basis, in order to ensure that we have security on the Plateau.” The Governor stated.

TROOPS OF OPERATION SAFE HAVEN NEUTRALISE 6 KIDNAPPERS

… Recover weapons*

August 24,2021





On Monday 23, August 2021, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) successfully neutralised syndicate of 6 criminals that specialise in kidnapping innocent people in Mangu local government area of Plateau State. The troops also recovered weapons belonging to the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from the bandits.



The Troops in a joint operations with the Divisional Police Headquarters at Mangu responded swiftly to a distress call from the IRT that bandits had attacked the team and took away their weapons. The criminals were immediately trailed and neutralised after a gun duel with the troops.



Remains of the IRT members who lost their lives and that of the 6 criminal gangs were recovered. The troops also recovered 3 AK 47 rifles belonging to IRT team earlier taken away by the criminals.



Commending the troops for their swift response, the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN Major General Ibrahim Ali has charged the troops to continue the collaborative efforts and sustain the tempo until criminal elements are wiped out of plateau state. He further directed the troops to dominate all suspected criminal hideouts and deny them freedom of action.



General Ali also called on citizens to continue to collaborate with troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN and always provide the Operation with credible security information.



You are please requested to disseminate this information through your various medium. Thank you for your usual cooperation.



*ISHAKU GAJI TAKWA*

Major

Military Information Officer

24 August 2021

One Police officer on Monday lost his life in a gun battle with armed bandits in Pyem district of Gindiri in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state.



However, six of the bandits were also killed in the gun duel.



Our correspondent gathered that the gallant officer Abdulrahaman Isa Danzakara, lost his live in the evening .



Confirming the incident the Police spokesman, ASP, Gabriel Ubah in Plateau in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos reads that on 23/08/2021 at about 1400hrs, the command received credible information about the activity of a notorious syndicate of gunrunners at Kwoi Village, in Mangu LGA of the State.



He said that “On receipt of the information, the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) based in Mangu, Police Operatives attached to Mangu Division, STF and local vigilante were mobilized and swiftly raced to the area.”



“On sighting the team, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun duel. But because of the tactical operational capability and superior gunfire of the Operatives, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others fled with various degrees of bullets wounds. “



He also added that exhibits recovered from them include Three AK 47 Rifles with Breach Nos 868, 106076 and 123487.



“Regrettably, one Insp. Abdulrahaman Isah who is the Commander IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu and one Hassan Mohammed a local vigilante gallantly paid the supreme price.



Investigation has since commenced and efforts are being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate,the spokesman further added

Bandits have invaded the Afaka barracks of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, killing a naval officer.



The bandits were also said to have also kidnapped two majors.





Our correspondent gathered that the bandits who attacked the barracks around 1am on Tuesday are still be inside the academy.



A reliable source within the barracks told our correspondent that security has been beefed up within and around the barracks to stop the bandits from escaping with the officers.



“It was a terrible experience, the bandits took advantage of the time when most people had gone to bed to attack the barracks.”



“Right now, the whole barracks is under lock and key and security has been beefed up so that the bandits cannot leave the barracks because it is believed that they are still within,” the source said.

NORTHERN GOVERNORS CONGRATULATE SULTAN OF SOKOTO AT 65

The Northern Governors Forum has congratulated His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR as he marks his 65th birthday.

Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong in a congratulatory message described the Sultan as an inspiring leader who has continued to promote national unity, peace and security of Nigeria as well as offered valuable counsel to the Governments at all levels.

Governor Lalong said Sultan Abubakar remains a respectable leader who is always on the side of truth and embraces justice for all people irrespective of their religious, ethnic, political or economic backgrounds.

While wishing the Royal Father many more years of good health, peace of mind and God’s protection, Lalong urged him to continue to offer his wise counsel to the nation, particularly to Northern Governors who have found in him a worthy partner for the emancipation of the region from many of its challenges.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman Northern Governor’s Forum.
25th August 2021.

By Prince Sekat, Jos

RE: RISING INSECURITY IN PLATEAU STATE

Headquarters 3 Division Nigerian Army and Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) notes the press briefing held by TEKAN/ECWA BLOC of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State Chapter on the rising insecurity in the State delivered on 23 August 2021 at the ECWA Jos DCC Headquarters Jos North Plateau state and the issues raised therein.

The commander appreciates some of the concerns of the Christian bloc and appeals for calm as the Operation is working round the clock with the Government and critical stakeholders to maintain peace in the state. The Operation is determined to protect law abiding citizens of all faiths, ethnic backgrounds on the plateau and ensure peaceful co-existence.

We are not unmindful of the determination of some merchants of crisis to perpetuate unrest in Jos metropolis and its environs. They are also bent on ensuring that the GOC and Commander OPSH does not continue with his mandate of ensuring sustainable peace in the state. The call for the removal of the GOC did not come to us as a surprise as the campaign of calumny against the person of the GOC started shortly after his assumption of command. Those series of attacks were indeed precursors to this latest call for his removal.

While acknowledging some setbacks recorded initially, those challenges have been surmounted by more deployments, robust mobile patrols and increased presence of security personnel. We have also increased our engagements with critical stakeholders and citizens to build confidence and keep the channels of communication open. It is a fact that we have increasingly responded swiftly to distress calls to curtail crime and criminality in the state.

To allege that Maj Gen IS Ali has not lived to expectation in managing the dual responsibility of GOC and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN is false. Suffice to say that Plateau State is one of the 5 states under the 3 Division area of responsibility and they have been well managed. Moreso, military officers are deployed for appointments based on their competence, training, experience and capabilities. Additionally, the GOC is under oath to discharge his duties professionally and not to please individuals for their personal gains. The erroneous mention of the GOC’s initials as MS Ali is also indicative of the fact that the group does not even know the person of the GOC and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN.

At this point we urge the TEKAN/ECWA bloc of CAN to encourage her members to cooperate with the security agencies as they strive to restore peace and security in the state and not to resort to self help by taking the laws into their hands.

The public is once again assured that security agencies would continue to carry out its assigned duties professionally devoid of tribal, ethnic, socio-political and religious sentiments by ensuring peace and tranquility in its area of responsibility.
Kindly disseminate to the public through your medium. Thank you for your usual cooperation.

Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba Usman has charged Police officers to arrest and deal with any member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Mr. Usman made the charge on Monday in Asaba during a visit to the Delta state police command.

He said: “It is expected that whatever affect Anambra State may likely affect, especially Asaba. It is just the bridge that is separating the towns.

“There are always spill over of agitations and demonstrations from Onitsha to Asaba.

“That is why you need to get prepared to deal with any crime or criminality to ensure that those trouble makers are brought to book.”

“You (officers) need to brace up to the IPOB challenge because it is a proscribed organisation, and treat them as such.”

Commending officers and men of the command for their successes, Usman who was Commissioner of Police in the state between 2014 and 2016, urged them to improve on their crime fighting efforts.

The wife of Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe (J.T.U.) Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s first military head of state, Chief Mrs. Victoria Nwanyiocha Aguiyi-Ironsi, is dead.
She died in the early hours of Monday, aged 97.


Born on November 21, 1923, she was the second First Lady of Nigeria from January 16, 1966, to July 29, 1996, when her husband was assassinated in a counter military coup carried out by Nigerian military officers of Northern extraction.

Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed in Ibadan in the countercoup led by Murtala Muhammed and which led to the installation of Yakubu Gowon as head of state.

Reflecting on her life after the gruesome murder of her husband in an interview with The Guardian newspaper on June 3, 2016, she said.

“The truth is that 29th of July this year will be 50 years since my husband was killed. By then, I had eight children. I have seen hell and at the same time, I have seen heaven.”

PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT REFUTES NBA JOS BRANCH ALLEGATION ON ALLEGED BAIL DENIAL DIRECTIVE BY GOVERNOR LALONG

The Plateau State Government is constrained to refute and correct the misconception and misinformation contained in a press statement issued by the Nigerian Bar Association, Jos Branch, issued by its Chairman, Yakubu S. Bawa, Esq. on 20th August, wherein several issues (albeit incorrectly) were raised against the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG.

This clarification would not have been necessary, but for the fact that the weighty allegations are coming from a professional body like the NBA of which the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG is a proud member, one-time official and serious stakeholder, having earned his place in the noble profession.

Secondly, the matters raised in the press statement if left un-countered, could condense in the minds of right-thinking Nigerians and probably be considered factual with the tendency to cast the Governor in bad light, thereby injuring both his hard-earned reputation and the credibility of his Administration.

The summary of the 3-paged press statement centres on concerns raised by the NBA Jos Branch to what it alleged to be Media Reports credited to the Governor, to the effect that “His Excellency has issued a firm instruction to concerned authorities to decline the grant of bail to those arrested in connection to the mob action meted on the Bauchi – Ondo bound commuters, enroute Rukuba Road Jos North LGA, Plateau State. In the same vein, the statement categorically gave a marching order to security operatives to arrest any person that seeks to secure the release of such suspects on bail”.

For the avoidance of doubt and for the benefit of those who were not present at the High Level Stakeholders Meeting held at the Victoria Gowon Hall of the Government House Rayfield, the Governor gave an opening address during which he highlighted a number of issues relating to the resurgence of attacks particularly in Bassa, Jos North, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South Local Government Areas.

One of them was his frustration over what he described as the unfortunate report from the Security Agencies which indicated that some suspects earlier arrested in connection with various Capital Offenses (preceding the Bassa and Rukuba Road incidents), were granted Bail only to be fingered as having a hand in most recent attacks.

This much was confirmed to journalists by the Plateau State Commissioner Edward Egbuka after the security meeting of 3rd August 2021 in which he said, “There are records of leaders that are on bail temporarily, and some of them have been fingered in this present attacks. Nobody will be spared”.

What the Governor clearly expressed was a frustration with this development. His warning was to those who stand Surety for such suspects to realise the danger of the fact that some of the persons for whom they stand Surety without necessary background checks, turn out to be fingered in other crimes while on bail. In fact, the Governor shared his frustration with the Chief Judge of the State Hon. Justice Yakubu Gyang Dakwak who was also present at the event. He neither directed the denial of bail to suspects indicted in the Rukuba Road incident, nor ordered the arrest of those who attempt to seek their bail.

Against the foregoing background, to therefore suggest that his Excellency ordered bail to be denied deserving suspects or that those who come to seek bail for others be arrested, is completely incorrect. This is clearly a interpretation of his intervention that was clearly taken out of context and garnished with innuendos to suit certain preconceived narratives. The said allegations attributed to the Governor are therefore not true and should be discountenanced by the public.

The Governor being a Member of the Legal Profession will not associate himself with any pronouncement that is against the tenets of the Constitution or at variance with the Fundamental Human Rights of the Citizens that he has sworn to protect. Besides, he has no intention to arrogate to himself any powers that he does not possess such as deciding who gets or is denied Bail.

With this hindsight and the avalanche of information available to the Governor as the “Chief Security Officer” of the State, his frustration as elucidated earlier stands to be clearly understood by right thinking members of society without the risk of any embellishment and out-of-context interpretation.
We take this opportunity to assure the NBA Jos Branch that the Governor remains a defender of the Constitution and of Human Rights, having assumed this responsibility by the Oath he took as Governor of Plateau State and by the virtue of his status as a former law maker and one that has his roots in the legal profession.

Had the NBA Jos Branch sought clarification and exercised restraint, their Press Statement would have been unnecessary. We appeal to the Members of the Learned Profession to endeavour to fact-check issues in order to avoid being drawn into matters that may not be helpful at times like this.

We hope this explanation sets His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG, Executive Governor Of Plateau State and by the grace of God, Chairman, Northern Governors Forum on the same page with the NBA, Jos Branch and beyond.

Hon. Dan Manjang
Commissioner for Information & Communication, Plateau State.
22nd August 2021

Man heading to Plateau arrested with 320 bullets, magazines, others


By Prince Sekat, Jos


An arms smuggler, Likita Abubakar, 35 years old, has been apprehended in Nasarawa State.


Abubakar was caught with 53 magazines, over 260 live ammunition, one motorcycle and N38,500.

A joint team of the Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) apprehended him at Alushi junction in Akwanga.

His colleagues are on their way on motorcycles to Jos in Plateau State, Likita reportedly disclosed.

The suspect is being detained at Akwanga Police Divisional headquarters.

A statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Ramhan Nansel said the arrest followed intelligence.

Commissioner of Police, Adesina Soyemi has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, in Lafia for a thorough investigation.
Nansel confirmed that Abubakar had been on the wanted list of the Police “for offences ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping”.

The figure in the headline was increased to 320 from 260 after police confirmation