From Gyang Bere, Jos
The Commissioner of Police, Plateau Command, Bartholomew Onyeka, has sealed the Plateau State House of Assembly following an intelligent report that some unscrupulous elements are mobilizing to unleash terror on the House.
CP Onyeka who briefed Journalists in Jos on Tuesday said the Ayuba Abok and Yakubu Sanda’s factions have been told to stay clear of the Assembly complex till the issues are resolved.
He said the directive was on the heels of last week’s state high court judgement that reinstated Ayuba Nuhu Abok as the Speaker of the House.
Abok was allegedly impeached by 8 out of the 24 members of the State House of Assembly on Thursday, October 28, 2021, and was reinstated into office on April 4, 2023.
He noted that since then, they have beefed security at the Assembly complex to avert a breakdown of law and order pending when normalcy is restored.
“In view of the intelligence I got, an invitation was sent to the honourable members of the Plateau State House of Assembly which they honoured and came with their team of lawyers, there and then along with Members of my Management Team, they were advised not to do anything that will lead or be inimical to the breakdown of law and order.
“The deployment of policemen to guard the premises as earlier stated because it will be a negligence and dereliction of duty on my part as the CP here on the Plateau if having gotten the above intelligence, I fail to do that for which I’m here to do, which is to protect lives and properties and above all, to ensure the continued peace in Plateau State so that life and business can go on smoothly.
“The deployment of Police personnel to the State House of Assembly wasn’t targeted against any group or persons, as it was merely preventive to maintain peace, protect lives and properties and prevent the breakdown of law and order.
“After taking such measures, the police who is also a party in the suit filed notices and injunctions of appeal and stay of execution on the same 3rd of April 2023 which was equally served on the parties concerned. From that period, a series of meetings have been held with the view toward ensuring that the Plateau State House of Assembly Complex is secured adequately.”
He explained clearly that he is not a politician nor any of the police officers are partisan.
Onyeka appealed to Plateau people, traditional rulers, elders of the state, religious leaders, parents and guardians, Women Groups, the Youths and all residents of Plateau State to avoid being used by any person or group of persons to achieve their self-serving, selfish ambitions.
“On our part as the Police we are only concerned to ensure that Plateau State remains peaceful for all to live in and the Commissioner of Police would not fold his arms and watch the honourable members of the Plateau State House of Assembly turn the premises of the Assembly into a battlefield or a boxing ring.
“Urge all law-abiding citizens of Plateau State to go about their lawful businesses and the warring parties to seek peaceful ways of settling their differences in accordance with the rule of law,” he stated.