Police Direct Total Unsealing of Plateau LG Secretariats

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Plateau State Police Command has directed that the 17 local government secretariats in the state be completely unsealed for resumption of activities.
The secretariats were sealed following protests as a result of suspension of the council chairmen who were accused of misappropriation, and subsequent appointment of caretaker chairmen by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
But on August 14, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Okoro Julius Awari, directed a partial unsealing of the secretariats while the chairmen’s offices were still sealed.

However, the police yesterday further directed the total unsealing of the secretariats.
 In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Alfred Alabo, the police said: “Following the unsealing of the 17 local government secretariats in Plateau State on 14th August, 2023 by the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, Okoro Julius Alawari, after diligent assessment of the security situation in the state and in

tensive consultation with the Police High Command to enable workers carry out their statutory duties and since then, the state has been relatively peaceful.
“As part of efforts to ensure the effective running of the 17 local government secretariats in the State, the Police High Command has critically reviewed the matter and has directed the Plateau State Commissioner Police to unseal all the offices of the local government council chairmen and that of the councillors to enable all the elected council chairmen and councillors go into their various offices and administer without any hindrance, pending the outcome of their case in court.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, has directed all Area Commanders and their Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) under his command to immediately unseal the offices of the 17 local government chairmen across the state and allow the democratically elected chairmen have access to their offices and resume work on Monday, 28th August, 2023.”

The police also warned political parties, parents, guardians, religious and traditional rulers to caution their supporters, wards and congregants against any form of jubilation and inciting demonstrations that could trigger a breach of peace, law, and order in and around the local government Areas of the state.

“Also, criminals and mischief makers who may want to use this opportunity to brew confusion or foment trouble in the state should note that the Plateau State Police Command is out to apprehend and prosecute them accordingly,” the command said.