Police takeover 17 LGAs Secretariats in Plateau over possible crisis

Taking a proactive step to prevent crisis in the fragile State of Plateau, owing to the controversies surrounding the sack of the 17 Local Government Chairmen in the State, the inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the sealing of all the 17 Local Government Secretariats in Plateau.

Recall that Governor Caleb Muftwang upon assuming office suspended the 17 Local Government Chairmen based on the recommendation of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Refusing to be suspended, the LGA Chairmen held a series of press briefings insisting they were all duly elected by the electorates in the election conducted by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), and therefore cannot be sacked or suspended by the Assembly or the Governor.

However, Governor Muftwang went ahead to swear-in Caretaker Transition Committee Chairmen that will take over from the suspended Chairmen, an action that is suspected to start another round of crisis in the State as the suspended 17 LGA Chairmen insisted not to vacate their offices.

Tension began to brew up in the State, and the Police acting on intelligence, briefed the Inspector General of Police in Abuja on the possible steps to be taken in halting the situation.

Reacting to the intelligent report, the IGP on Thursday ordered the sealing of the 17 LGA councils until further notice.

Receiving the order in a statement sent to our correspondent by the Plateau Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police said: “The IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Onyeka to seal up all the 17 Local Government Secretariats of the State.

“This has become necessary as a result of tensions around the leadership of the Local Government Areas, and the possible threat that supporters and Local Government Chairmen are posing to critical infrastructure, lives and properties in the State.

“The decision to take this action is in accordance with the exercise of our constitutional responsibility as the Nigeria Police Force, to ensure that the above doesn’t hold sway on the Plateau.

“To this end, the Nigeria Police Force cannot sit down and watch things go wrong under our watch, hence the need to make this critical decision of sealing up the Local Government secretariats.

“The command therefore warns that it will not take it lightly with anyone who tries to disrupt this process or causes any confusion around the Local Government Secretariats, as we will ensure that the law takes its full course on such persons”, the statement reads.