THE Plateau State police command has sealed up the secretariats of all the 17 local government areas (LGAs) in the state.
The state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, had earlier this month approved the immediate suspension of the leadership of the councils to pave the way for an investigation by the state House of Assembly.
Muftwang said the suspension followed the inability of the LGA bosses to produce documents related to financial transactions in their secretariats.
The governor’s decision has generated unrest in all the affected councils, as the suspended chairmen insisted they were still in charge of their councils.
But in a statement on Thursday, June 15, the state police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, revealed that the seal-up of the secretariats was carried out on the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba.
According to the police, the decision to seal up the secretariats became necessary due to the unruly behaviour of the suspended chairmen and their supporters.
Alabo said, “To this end, the NPF on the Plateau cannot sit and watch things go wrong under its watch, hence the need to make this critical decision of sealing up the local government secretariats.
“The IG has ordered the commissioner of police in Plateau state, Bartholomew Onyeka, to seal up all the secretariats of all the local government areas in the state.
“This is necessary as a result of tension around the leadership of the councils, and the possible threat that supporters are posing to critical infrastructure, lives and properties in the state.”
He also noted that the action was in accordance with the exercise of “our constitutional responsibility as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure that the above doesn’t hold sway on the Plateau.”
Alabo warned that the command would deal with anyone attempting to violate the order, irrespective of the person’s status in society.
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