From Gyang Bere, Jos
The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Bartholomew Onyeka, has sealed the state House of Assembly, following intelligence reports that some unscrupulous elements were mobilising to unleash terror on the House.
Onyeka, who briefed journalists in Jos, yesterday, said the Ayuba Abok and Yakubu Sanda’s factions have been told to steer 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 which reinstated Ayuba Nuhu Abok as the Speaker of the House.
Abok was allegedly impeached by eight 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 up security at the assembly complex to avert breakdown of law and order, pending when normalcy is restored.
“In view of the intelligence reports 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 would lead or be inimical to breakdown of law and order.
“I deployed 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 got 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 to prevent the breakdown of law and order. After taking such measures, the police, who are also a party in the suit, filed notices and injunctions of appeal and stay of execution on the same April 3, 2023, which was equally served on the parties concerned.
“From that period, a series of meetings have been held with a view to ensuring that the Plateau State House of Assembly Complex is secured adequately.”
He explained clearly that he was not a politician, nor was any of the police officers partisan.
Onyeka appealed to Plateau people, the 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 people 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 state house of assembly turn the premises of the assembly into a battlefield or a boxing ring.
“I 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.