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Tag: Plateau

  • Plateau crisis: DHQ threatens legal action against HURIWA

    Plateau crisis: DHQ threatens legal action against HURIWA

    The Defence Headquarters(DHQ) said it would not hesitate to seek legal action against Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) if it continues to mislead Nigerians over the crisis in Plateau State.

    It said as a responsible human right organisation, instead of cultivating the habit of responsible use of the media to disseminate truth, HURIWA has continued to spread falsehoods in order to create tension in the country.

    The military high command said this in a statement by the Director Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Monday, January 5.

    The statement came against the backdrop of HURIWA’s on Sunday where it faulted the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa’s approach to addressing the ongoing violence in Plateau State. 

    In the statement by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organisation expressed deep concerns over the recent escalation of violence, particularly the Christmas Eve attacks on over 20 communities in the Barkin-Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos areas.

    The rights group criticised the CDS’ response, especially the deployment of a Special Fact-Finding Team led by retired Major-General Augustine Agundu to investigate the root causes of the attacks.

    But reacting to the statement the Defence Headquarters said HURIWA was “ill-informed and could not spend time researching on efforts the military had made to restore normalcy in troubled areas of the country.”

    The statement said: “ For the record, the Fact-Finding Team headed by an experienced retired senior military officer was constituted by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, following the deployment of military hardwares including highly trained intelligence personnel and special forces to troubled areas of the State to ensure perpetrators of dastardly attacks are brought to justice. 

    “Consequent upon this, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja visited Plateau State on 27 January, 2024 and gave the troops specific orders to deal decisively with those fermenting troubles leading to loss of lives and properties. Recently, numerous intelligence-driven operations have been conducted leading to the arrest of key suspects who are currently undergoing interrogation. 

    “It is therefore pertinent to note, that the team was constituted as part of the non-kinetic approach of the DHQ in resolving the situation. Also, the team’s responsibility spreads across troubled areas in the country and not limited to Plateau State alone.  

    “The DHQ calls on HURIWA being one of the respected human rights groups to cultivate the habit of seeking credible information on issues especially as it concerns National Security before approaching the media. It is evident the group was ill-informed and could not spend time researching on efforts the military had made to restore normalcy in troubled areas of the country. 

    “The DHQ would have naturally overlooked the ignorance of HURIWA on this matter, but finds it necessary to educate civil society organizations on the responsible use of the media not to disseminate falsehoods and create tension where none exists. 

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct two Catholic Priests in Plateau

    “We therefore advise HURIWA to henceforth be passionate to seek adequate information on issues of national importance and stop misleading the public deliberately. 

    “The DHQ would take strong legal action should such a mistake repeat itself.”

    “The military high command said the CDS appreciated the support of the Nigerians to troops deployed on various operations across the country, for their “unquantifiable sacrifices” to ensure peace in our nation. 

    “The CDS is confident the troops will stamp out criminality in Plateau State and the country at large,” the statement said.

  • Double jeopardy as Plateau IDPs battle cold, pneumonia

    Double jeopardy as Plateau IDPs battle cold, pneumonia

    • Victim: Our attackers chased us out of our homes so we could die in cold

    In the battlefield that Plateau Central Senatorial District has become since April 2023, the resultant humanitarian crisis is better imagined. It has been one mass burial after the other while the number of internally displaced persons has been on the increase in the last nine months.

    From the data collated by the Nigerian Red Cross (NRC), the Christmas Eve attacks a month ago has generated more humanitarian issues than the state government can cater for. According to the Bokkos Divisional Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross, Jethro Gumbul, there are 7,457 children in IDP camps, 634 pregnant women, 321 nursing mothers and 542 aged people spread across the 13 IDP camps in Bokkos LGA.

    Barely one month after the Christmas Eve attacks, Mangu, the neighbouring local government area to Bokkos, erupted in another violence where more than 30 lives were lost. In all these attacks, the number of residential houses razed is often more than number of deaths, implying that the figure of displaced persons is higher.

    The multitude of displaced persons in IDP camps signifies serious of humanitarian challenges. One of the IDPs, Musa Bako, who left the camp to take refuge with a relation in Jos City, said: “I left the camp because of cold. I may die of cold if I remain there for another week. Many of us in the camp have developed pneumonia. Everyone is coughing and there is danger of an epidemic.”

    The month of January is a month of severe cold in Plateau State. It is the month when the harsh Jos cold is at its peak. The experience of sleeping in a church or school as a displaced person is worse than being in prison custody.

    “The attackers actually intended to displace us from our homes so that we can die in the cold,” said Joel Rabo.

    There are fears that nursing mothers and pregnant women in the camp are experiencing untold hardship due to the extreme weather condition.

    When the conflicts erupted again last Monday in Mangu LGA, many residents were burnt as their houses were set ablaze.

    Giving an account of the attack, a survivor said: “The attackers sent the villagers in their droves, to take refuge in Mangu town as well as other communities within and outside the state. Some survivors who settled in Mangu town and the surrounding suburbs are doubly traumatized as violence erupted in the town on Tuesday following a disagreement between two people.

    “The seemingly minor issue degenerated to the burning of 27 persons in Kwashlalek community. A yet to be confirmed number of people also lost their lives as the attacks escalated to Mangu town where scores of houses, shops and other properties were burnt.

    “I was lucky because my son arranged a security vehicle which evacuated us before our house and other property were burnt.

    “My house is at Sabon Kasuwa. On Tuesday morning, we woke up at about 6 am and started hearing sounds of gunshots. It got intensified so we got out and tried to see or hear what was happening.

    “When we didn’t know what was happening, we went back inside but we saw some Muslims in the neighbourhood moving in their numbers to the direction of the gunshots. We came out again and saw how menacing they were moving towards us and we got scared because we were only a few Christian families surrounded by the Muslims.

    “We moved to COCIN Church, Sabon Kaswa and our Reverend and everyone with security people’s numbers were calling the security people to come but they delayed. The Hausa and Fulani boys were moving menacingly while their wives, whom we never had any problem with, started insulting us.

    “I later called my son to help and he went to find a group of security men. They asked him to buy petrol for them and he did. The security came, picked up a few of us and dropped us at Gindiri Junction.

    “From Gindiri Junction, I went to a friend’s house, and it was there I got information that my house was burnt after they looted my property. We also saw that the security people that were brought did not allow our Christian brothers to come around to help us. The security men that came around did nothing as my house, our church and other Christian homes were burnt down.

    “I heard that they parked bags of maize, rice, gari and all that I sell. They then went into the compound and burgled all the rooms. They injured some people and later set the house ablaze.

    “A neighbour who was seriously sick and couldn’t move was burnt alongside his family members in his house.”

    Another resident, Le’an, said: “I left Dungwel on December 13 last year to stay with my uncle in his house near EKAN Primary School in Mangu town. I thought I would have peace there, but as we speak, we have moved to Angwan Mission to stay with some relatives because my uncle’s house was burnt by his Muslim neighbours on Wednesday.

    “We managed to escape unhurt, but we heard and saw them jubilating and rejoicing that we had been burnt in the house.

    “Three days ago, some herders attacked some Mwaghavul youths around the Sabon Gari area. The youths in that area protested against the action and were moving towards Ruga (a Fulani settlement) to iron out the matter.

    “Before we knew it, the Muslims settling at Sabon Kasuwa (new market) started attacking their Mwaghavul neighbours, asking why the people would go to Ruga. The natives asked if they were supporting the actions of the Fulani herders that always attack the people and they said yes.

    “The situation degenerated, leading to the burning of houses and the COCIN Church at Sabon Kasuwa.

    “The thing was spreading from one place to the other and it got to our area around EKAN Primary school where our Muslim neighbours also joined in burning houses.

    Read Also: INEC excludes  PDP from by-election in Plateau State

    “When the thing started in our area, we locked ourselves in the house because we didn’t think they would want to harm us. But surprisingly, we heard our neighbours asking if we were in, and when they confirmed it, they started throwing things on the zinc, breaking the windows as the rampaging youths approached.

    “When we saw that the house was on fire, we sneaked out through the back door without a pin as the attackers were gathered in the front.

    “As we were walking away, we could hear them saying in Hausa language, “mun kona baban dake cikin dakin,” meaning we have burnt Baba inside the house, referring to my uncle. We are still shocked that this could happen and my BP has gone up.

    “We are waiting for the curfew to be lifted, so I can take my uncle to join his son in Jos.”

    The violence has been controlled and the curfew enforced at the time of this report. The poor network in the area is limiting communication but some natives say there are increasing threats in some communities in Panyam district of Mangu.

    The state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who was disgusted at the high level of destruction witnessed in communities around Mangu Local Government Area of the state, noted that misguided people under the influence of hard drugs must have escalated the situation.

    He visited Kwashlalek, a community where 27 persons were burnt in a house, as well as others in Mangu and Bokkos local government areas to assess the level of destruction and promised to step up the campaign to stamp out illicit drugs in the state.

  • Plateau: I’m not dead, says commercial motorcyclist

    Plateau: I’m not dead, says commercial motorcyclist

    • We recorded 91 deaths – MDA; we recovered 10 bodies – Police

    A commercial motorcycle rider, Caleb Ebenezer, earlier declared dead in the Mangu crisis, has said he is alive.

    Ebenezer, who spoke with The Nation in Jos, said: “I’m personally debunking the statement of the military who told the whole world that I was killed in one of the attacks in Sabon Gari, Mangu.

    “Indeed, I was attacked by some Fulani youths, but I escaped their trap by the grace of God. I was surrounded by Fulani herders but only God knows how I escaped.”

    Recalling the events that culminated in the attack, Ebenezer said: “I was riding okada (motorcycle) from Mangu back to my village in Sabongari. Some Fulani people were passing with their cows.

    “They stopped me on the way so that their cattle could pass, and I stopped.

    “Unfortunately, when they had passed, the young man told me to move.

    “As I was moving on, a small Fulani herder boy told me that we had been disturbing them and did not want them to drink water.

    “He said they would start by killing us on the federal road so that people would know that they were not joking.

    “So I asked him, are you going to kill me? He said yes. One of them removed a machete and the other one removed a knife.

    “I asked again, so you want to kill me? They said yes. They said they must kill me before anything would happen.

    “Unfortunately, one of my colleagues, who was driving by, saw me and the children standing with their weapons to kill me.

    “He took a stone and threw it at them. Unfortunately, when I was returning to leave with my motorcycle, they hit me with a stick. They also broke the front of my bike.

    Read Also: INEC excludes  PDP from by-election in Plateau State

    “Before I knew it, people from various places and my community had gathered to chase them away.

    “The only thing the military people did was to escort the cattle and the Fulani boys to their base. They did not ask me anything.”

    Meanwhile, the President of Mwaghavul Youth Movement Worldwide Mr. Dawap Sunday Dankaka, has said the attack by armed Fulani men on January 22 resulted in 91 deaths.

    Dankaka stated this on Tuesday while giving account of the unfortunate development in Mangu LGA during the International World Press Conference on Incessant Killings in Plateau State by Equity International Initiative (EII) in collaboration with CYPA Africa held at Crispan Hotel in Jos the Plateau State capital.

    He said: “The incident, which started with Ebenezer, an okada rider, on that fateful day was not handled properly by the military and has led to the death of about 91 persons with about 128 persons injured and currently scattered across eight hospitals, receiving treatments.

    “We have recorded 91 deaths and we’re still counting. We have about 42 women, 37 children and 12 men that we’ve lost so far.

    “And in terms of those that were injured, we have about 128. They are scattered across about eight hospitals.

    “We are still collecting records of the unfortunate happening. You know, the losses we’ve had so far; about 91 deaths. We’re still counting.

  • Insecurity: Hospitality manager pledges to assist  Plateau govt 

    The management of Crispan Hotel and Suite Rayfield Jos have assured the Plateau State government of its maximum cooperation in the fight against criminal elements .

    The hotel management said it has various strategies to profile it’s guests and know who they are before giving them accommodation.

    Mrs. Svetlana Alexandrovna, the General Manager gave the assurance in a chat with reporters in his office yesterday.

    According to the Russian hospitality expert, management has unwavering commitment to guest security and comfort. We have prioritises stringent security measures, refusing accommodation to individuals of questionable character.

    “We are not only in Jos to make money, but to also contribute to the overall security of the state by knowing our guests in and out. We don’t have room to accommodate criminals.

    “Part of the overall security concerns of management is the hotel’s collaboration with conventional security agencies, conducting thorough security checks before guests check in. Crispan, being one of Jos’s largest hotels, boasts an impressive capacity, offering almost 4,000 parking spaces.

     Mr. Ibrahim Benjamin, the Director of Sales urged the state government to enhance infrastructure, attract companies and industries, and increase flights to Yakubu Gowon Airport from Lagos and other regions to bolster tourism and business in Plateau State.

    Read Also: Court jails actress for spraying, stepping on new Naira notes

    He said: “Despite prevailing security challenges, Crispan Hotel and Event Centre remains unwavering in its commitment to excellence, ensuring a secure and hospitable environment for guests and visitors in Jos, Plateau State.

    He laments low patronage by the hotel and attributed such to negative media campaign by some media organisations who portrayed Jos as unsafe for businesses.

    “In spite of the crisis in parts of the state, Plateau remain the safest to do business, but unfavorable media report is scaring away tourists and investors.

    ‘But as business people we remain resolute and dedicated our resources to delivering unparalleled “home away from home” service to our guests and tourists alike. We have a reputation for exceptional security and services.

    He said, In spite of the security challenges, there are numerous attractions and positive aspects of Plateau state that deserve global recognition.”

    The management therefore appealed to media to give accurate account of the business environment of the state to the global community in a way to attract and not to scare away tourists and investors.

    The management also applauded the government of Gov Caleb Mutfwang for putting in place necessary security measure that guaranteed business-friendly climate in the state.

  • Reps to investigate Plateau killings, set up ad hoc committee

    Reps to investigate Plateau killings, set up ad hoc committee

    The House of Representatives has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the cause of the incessant terrorist attacks in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom local government areas of Plateau state.

    The speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, said the committee led by Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), can co-opt chairmen of security-related committees of the House has one member each from the six geopolitical zones.

    Several persons have been killed in several attacks on communities in Plateau.

    Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Ishaya Lalu, the House asked the chief of defence staff to establish a civilian joint task force in Plateau state to work hand in hand with the security agencies to curtail the attacks in the state.

    Lalu briefed the House regarding the assaults on the residents of Mangu local government areas in Plateau state.

    He said the attacks resulted in the deaths of over 50 individuals, with many others sustaining severe injuries.

    Read Also: Plateau re-run election: No Jupiter can stopPDP from being on the ballot – Muftwang

    The lawmaker added that more than 1,000 houses and other properties, valued at billions of naira, were destroyed.

    Approximately 20,000 people have been displaced and are currently residing in various internally displaced persons (IDP) camps within and outside the local government area.

    According to Lalu most of the victims who sustained various degrees of injuries are currently receiving medical attention at different hospitals within the State.

    He said the continuous attacks by the terrorists in said Local Government Area need to be addressed immediately.

  • Many feared killed as soldiers, gunmen clash in Plateau

    Many feared killed as soldiers, gunmen clash in Plateau

    The Chairman, Mangu Local Government Area, Marcus Artu, confirmed the development to The Nation by phone.

    But he could not say how many gunmen were killed.

    “I cannot not give the casualty figure, but they are many, and this is the beginning of meeting their Waterloo.

    “What I was told is that some attackers came out in large numbers this morning (Saturday) and wanted to attack the people but the soldiers repelled them.”

    COAS to soldiers: Adopt more aggressive posture against those disturbing Plateau peace

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on an assessment visit to Mangu LGA yesterday, ordered troops of the 3 Division Nigerian Army and the Joint Task Force Operation Safe Haven to adopt more aggressive posture and decisively stamp out terrorists causing mayhem in Plateau and neighbouring states.

    “Go hard on those disturbing the peace of the Plateau and neutralise any terrorist annihilating people and burning or destroying property and other economic valuables,” he said while addressing them.

    The COAS, who received briefing  on the security situation from the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven, Major-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, acknowledged that the security dynamics on the Plateau are complex owning  to its political background, interwoven with cultural and economic sentiments.

    Read Also: Plateau killings: Perpetrators won’t go unpunished, Mutfwang vows

    These, he added, accounted for the prolonged duration of the conflicts and the escalation in its lethality.

    Gen. Lagbaja inspected the arms and ammunition recovered by the troops and commended them for not allowing the crisis to escalate to other parts of the state.

    He was confident that the troops would be more resilient and leave no stone unturned in ensuring that peace and tranquility is restored on the Plateau and other troubled parts of the country.

    He charged the troops to live up to the expectations of all peace loving and law abiding residents of the Plateau, harping that trust is earned and the troops must do all within their means to maintain the trust of the people they are tasked to protect.

    Lagbaja, who seized the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on Governor Mutfwang, expressed appreciation to the government and people of Plateau State for their effort in ensuring that peace reigns in the state.

    He said a marching order had been handed down to troops to sternly enforce law and order and to be decisive in tackling the security situation on the Plateau.

  • Insecurity: Military deploys special forces in FCT, Plateau, other hotspots

    Insecurity: Military deploys special forces in FCT, Plateau, other hotspots

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday restated its determination to eliminate the “cancer of terrorism” in the country.

    It said that  combat operations have been revved up through the deployment of  special forces in hotspots, especially in   the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) and  Plateau State  

    Also deployed in the hotspots are battlefield enablers to enhance operational intelligence and strike capability of troops against terrorists.

    The DHQ, however, warned that anyone caught maliciously disparaging the military would be dealt with in accordance with the law.  

    Director Defence, Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba and Acting Director Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tulur Gusau said these in Abuja.   

    Buba said the military and other security agencies had intensified operations in some suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring states.

    Read Also; Reinvigorating anti-terror war (1)

    The  FCT suburbs  are Cashew Forest, Kwaku, Gwombe, Gadoro and Tukuba all in Kuje Area Council;

     Kawu, Igu, Tokulo, Gaba, Zuma 1 and Zuma 2, Shere, Mpape, Jikoko, Berger Quarry and Nukuchi villages in Bwari Area Council.  

     Some villages in neighbouring states to the FCT where the operations are ongoing are  Gauraka, Apo Forest, Gyedna/Sabon Wusa and Garam in Tafa Local government area of Niger State,  and  Numan and Basa in Akwanga and Nasarawa Local government areas of Nasarawa State.

     The Defence Media Operations Director said the military was conscious of the fact that the ongoing insurgency has made life worse for many Nigerians in the    Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral and Southeast.

    His words: ”We also recognise the apprehension occasioned by kidnappings, particularly with recent events recorded in the FCT and other areas.

    “Indeed, we may not have all the answers now. However, we assure citizens that we are working assiduously to address the situation both in the immediate and long term to ensure the safety of lives and property.

    “We are redoubling our efforts to ensure citizens live in a peaceful environment and have a prosperous life. This is achievable and we are focused on achieving it.  

    “The Armed Forces would destroy the cancer of terrorism that is ravaging our country thereby creating situations such as that ongoing in the Plateau State. The situation of insecurity that we are confronted with is self-inflicted by our own citizens upon one another. Nevertheless,  It is our duty to protect citizens and create a safe environment for them to have a prosperous future.  

    “We do not take lightly the privilege and enormous responsibility of safeguarding our citizens.  It is for this reason that we constantly rejig our operational strategies to adopt the best course of action that would make these ugly experiences a thing of the past.”

    Also,   Acting Director Defence Information Brig.-Gen.  Gusau cautioned Nigerians against spreading falsehood, especially with regard to the security challenges in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.

    Gusau dismissed claims of bias levelled against troops involved in restoring peace in Mangu.  

    He said the claims were baseless, malicious and lacked any reasonable foundation.

    The Defence spokesman said: “We want to reiterate that the military remains neutral, focused, professional and committed to its constitutional role of protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.

    “We will deal with anybody found disobeying the law, without bias or prejudice.

    “We strongly caution individuals involved in making malicious comments against the military to cease such acts.

    “Henceforth,  any person found spreading falsehoods will face constitutional redress, regardless of their status in society.

    “We, therefore, call upon the public to support the ongoing military operations aimed at decimating non-state actors operating in these troubled areas of the state.”

    On the Plateau crisis, Gusau said that Operation Safe Haven troops have been reinforced in Mangu to enforce the curfew there and bring the situation under control.

     ”The troops have carried out their duties professionally and in accordance with the rules of engagement.

    “They have successfully arrested criminals involved in looting and burning of properties, as well as recovered weapons,” the Defence spokesman added.

    The military also gave updates on troops’ operations within weeks in other parts of the country.

    It said troops neutralised 94,  arrested 171 criminals and rescued 29 kidnapped hostages during the period. 

    Operation SAFE HAVEN  spokesman,   Capt. James Oya, also said troops arrested some youths who attacked Airforce personnel enforcing the curfew in Kerang, Mangu LGA.

    Oya said that guns were recovered from the youths, who also destroyed and looted properties in the community.

  • Gunmen defy curfew, ‘kill’ 25 persons in Plateau

    Gunmen defy curfew, ‘kill’ 25 persons in Plateau

    • JNI condemns renewed violence

    Twenty five persons were yesterday feared killed as armed criminals invaded Kwahaslalek and  surrounding communities of Mangu Local Government in Plateau State in defiance of the 24-hour curfew emplaced by the state government.

    Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Tuesday declared 24-hour curfew with immediate effect in Mangu to address resumed terror attacks in the local government area.

    Less than 24-hours after the declaration, the invaders struck in the early hours yesterday, setting several homes ablaze and killing mostly women and children.

    Although official sources were yet to speak on the attack, a resident, Hosea Ibrahim, said the skirmish that happened at Mangu Town was a decoy to pave the way for the attack on the community, located not far from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp at Jakatai.

    He said: “What happened at Sabon Gari and Mangu on Tuesday was just a distraction so that people’s attention will be shifted away from the villages.

    “For the second time my village Kwahaslalek (Behind NYSC camp) was attacked at about 12:30am leaving over 25 people mostly women and children killed as houses were burnt and some persons left with gun shots.

    “At about midnight there were sporadic gunshots and the women ran to one compound for safety. Unfortunately, the terrorists went there and killed them while the men were keeping vigil outside the community.

    “The victims were killed at a community leader’s house where they ran for refuge.

    The Mairana, Kinat and other communities in Mangu Halle District and those on the borders of Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local government areas are deserted now.”

    However, a security personnel who preferred anonymity said, “Mangu town is calm but we were called in the early hours of today about a development around the communities close to the NYSC camp, our people are there but the deed had been done.

    Spokesman of Operation Safe Haven, Army Captain James Oya, was yet to respond to enquiries from our Correspondent at the time of this report.

    Read Also: Excitement on the Plateau

    Meanwhile, the Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has condemned resumed violence in Mangu, calling on the government and security agencies to imtensify efforts towards safeguarding the people.

    The group in a statement by its secretary, Dr. Salim Musa Umar, condemned the attack on places of worship, noting that the implementation of the curfew declared by the government seemed to be problematic despite the measure being timely.

    “Unfortunately, the implementation becomes problematic because the security personnel are obviously overstretched while some are allegedly compromised.

    “Reports from Mangu town this morning are not encouraging as places of worship and faith-based schools were torched and demolished while the killing continues again.

    “Residents are decrying the negative role of the state government’s security outfit codenamed ‘Operation Rainbow’, accusing them of glaring partisanship.

    We call on the government and security agencies to intensify their efforts in securing the lives and properties of the inhabitants of Mangu and other flashpoints.

    “All concerned should also do everything possible to prevent any possible escalation.

    Security agents should be on the lookout for possible infiltrators as it is widely alleged that some hired killers are on the prowl with the intent to carry out massive attacks.

    “This is an act that shouldn’t be allowed to happen. All hands must be on deck and by all relevant stakeholders to restore peace and order in Mangu LGA and other affected communities…”

  • Excitement on the Plateau

    Excitement on the Plateau

    The Supreme Court could well toast itself as a bastion of legal conservatism, for its final decisions on the gubernatorial cases in Plateau, Kano and Zamfara — cases that seemed eerily close to being flipped in the courts, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared PDP candidates as winners.

    The same too could be said of Nasarawa, though INEC had declared the APC candidate and sitting governor, only for the Nasarawa Election Tribunal, in a split 2-1 decision, to flip it for the PDP candidate.  Here too, the Supreme Court calmed jagged nerves, though the Court of Appeal had earlier reversed the tribunal’s decision.

    The apex court did well.  Whatever the legal purity of the lower courts for their decisions, the stage was set for explosive street costs, were those verdicts to stand.  But that’s not to say the apex court pandered to political expediency. 

    Still, before the Supreme Court starts wearing a chip on its shoulders, let it be reminded that it, in 2019, started this romp into judicial radicalism — pronounce justice even if heavens fall! — which trail the Court of Appeal followed, by their 2023 verdicts.

    APC’s David Lyon won the Bayelsa governorship in November 2019.  The poor fellow was rehearsing for his inauguration, on the eve of swear-in, when came the thunderbolt: his win had been nullified, on the basis of alleged forgery by his running mate.  Lyon did no wrong.  His deputy allegedly did. 

    But a lower court later dismissed the so-called “forgery”, insisting that the names were proven different names, of the same person, at different phases of his life.  That was ringing judicial injustice imposed by the apex court.  Yet, nobody had seen the court apologize for this reckless verdict.  Lyon lost his win — and heavens didn’t fall!

    Read Also: JUST IN: Gunmen kill 30 in fresh Plateau attack despite curfew

    In Zamfara, declared winners — with thumping margins — were pronounced losers, by both the Court of Appeal (the final stop for legislative challenges) and the Supreme Court (governorship).  The irony though was that the court-declared PDP governorship “winner”, perhaps seeing the balance of political forces, defected to APC, sacrificing his deputy, who stayed faithful to their PDP ticket and declared he wasn’t defecting.

    Why this long background story, though?  Simple: the excitement on the Plateau — the 16 PDP legislators that the Court of Appeal sacked, gifting their seats to APC — isn’t novel.  It happened before in Zamfara.  Heavens didn’t fall.  If that bore the imprimatur of the Court of Appeal, the brazen injustice to David Lyon bore the stamp of the Supreme Court.  Duoye Diri, loser to Lyon in 2019 — by 143, 172 to 352, 552 votes — just won a second term, after the Supreme Court-gifted one.  Life moved on!

    So, let the sacked PDP legislators in Plateau take a chill.  Whatever the merit of their case, they can’t take the law into own hands — any more than the Bayelsa and Zamfara people did.  Everyone must follow due process.  Even if at the end their sack is confirmed, so be it.  Heavens won’t fall!

    In all of this though, let the Supreme Court stay humble.  The genesis of the present confusion came from its stable on the Lyon case.  That, after four years, its Saul just turned to Paul, won’t take out that stain.

  • The Plateau palaver

    The Plateau palaver

    The Supreme Court’s judgment came at a wrong time for them. If only the judgment had been delivered before their own cases had been heard and determined by the Court of Apeal, the sacked lawmakers from Plateau State would today still be in their respective hallowed chambers at the stae and national levels.

    They are no longer ‘honourable’ members of the National and Plateau State House of Assembly because of what the apex court called ‘perverse’ judgment in the case of Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Nentanwe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

    The cases of Mutfwang and the lawmakers, who are of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were ‘on all fours’, as lawyers will say. But, the lawmakers’ cases, as similar as they were with Mutfwang’s, did not get to the Supreme Court, where the governor got the judgment which reinstated him

    Appeals in the lawmakers’ cases end at the Court of Appeal, where their fates were sealed following the court’s decision that they won elections on the platform of a party without structures. According to the appeal court, their party, PDP, disobeyed the order of the Plateau State High Court to hold fresh ward, local government and state congresses to fill executive posts. The apex court found otherwise.  That was the governor’s saving grace.

    The apex court’s hands were, however, tied in respect of the lawmakers’ issue. The matter never came before it and coud never have gone there because of the provisions of the law on disputes over legislative elections. The disputes end at the Court of Appeal. This was also the case with governorship election disputes until the law was amended to allow the cases to get to the Supreme Court.

    In deciding the Mutfwang case, the Supreme Court nevertheless noted the harm the Court of Appeal did in respect of cases similar to the matter that never came before it. It was a mere observation, which could not and should not be taken as a pronouncement on the lawmakers’ cases. As members of the society who see what goes on around them too, judges are free to comment on vexed issues, which though not before them they cannot pretend to be unaware of.

    There was no way their Lordships would have dispensed with Mutfwang’s appeal, without making a passing remark on the lawmakers’ cases. The import of their remarks was in the message for their constituency to be more thorough in the adjudication of cases to avoid becoming “irrelevant” to society. The import was not in not making a pronouncement on a case not before them. The Supreme Court will never do that. Give an order in a case in which it has no jurisdiction!

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    The Supreme Court will not be Supreme Court if it does that. The lawmakers’ agitation to benefit from the verdict is understandable. Of course, grave injustice was done them by that Court of Appeal’s decision, which the apex court in Mutfwang’s appeal described as “perverse”. From the reading of that, it means justice was also perverted in the lawmakers’ cases which stood ‘on all fours’ with Mutfwang’s. But can they benefit from the judgment when their cases ended long before the verdict came?

    Can the verdict be, so to say,  retroactively enforced to accommodate their cases? As it were, it is unfortunate that they cannot rely on the verdict in order to regain their seats. On what basis can they do that when their rights of appeal do not extend to the apex court? If only the verdict had come before the disposal of their cases, the appeal court would have had no choice than to abide by it as a binding precedent.

    The coming of the Supreme Court’s verdict after their own cases is a major blow to the lawmakers and this is perhaps why Justice John Okoro, who presided over the Mutfwang case, said in his concurring opinion: “A lot of people have suffered because of the judgments of the Court of Appeal”. The remedy does not lie in the lawmakers and their supporters laying siege to the House of Assembly as they did on Tuesday.

    That will not serve any useful purpose. It will only exacerbate matters. The lawmakers should return to court and see what can be done. From my layman’s perspective, it is a long shot though. But it is better than resorting to self-help by taking the law into their hands. They should remember that they are lawmakers and not law breakers.