By Golok Nanmwa, Jos
Plateau State Police Command on Tuesday warned that it will not tolerate any protest by staff of local government areas in the state over the sealing of their secretariats by the police.
It could be recalled that the Former Inspector General of Police, Baba Usman Alkali, had ordered the sealing of the secretariats following issues that arose over the sack of all the 17 elected chairmen and their replacement with transition committees.
The Plateau Police command in a statement signed by the spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, said that they got intelligence reports that some group of persons in the name of Local Government Unions is planning a protest in the state.
The statement reads in parts “It will be recalled that on 15/06/2023, the Inspector General of Police ordered the sealing of all 17 Local Government Secretariats on the Plateau due to intelligence received that some hoodlums are trying to unleash mayhem in all the Local Government Areas of the State, due to dissatisfaction springing from the appointment of interim chairmen by the newly inaugurated State Government.
The action became necessary as our proactive/statutory duty of the Police, as we are duty bound to intervene in the face of any treat or break down of law and due to the several acts of lawlessness exhibited by some persons in some local government secretariat, hence we took the action to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the 17 LGAs.
“But unfortunately, on Tuesday, intelligence at our disposal revealed that some group of persons in the name of Local Government Unions is planning a protest in the state.
“The Commissioner of Police CP Bartholomew N. Onyeka therefore warns that the security situation in the state is still fragile and will not fold its arms and watch any form of threat to the corporate existence of the state and the fragile peace that we are currently enjoying in the State.
“The CP further warns that in the event of any breakdown of law and order, destruction of life and properties, the leaders of these groups will be fished out and made to face the law, as the case between the State and Local Government Councils in question is still in court, he said.
