The Commissioner of Police in Plateau State, Mr Batholemew Onyeka, has said that the state House of Assembly will remain sealed till security threats within and around the assembly complex are tackled.
Onyeka stated this on Tuesday in Jos while addressing newsmen on reasons why the House of Assembly was sealed by security personnel on April 5, News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The commissioner said the command received an intelligence report on an impending attack on the complex that could lead to the breakdown of law and order.
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He said the command, through social media, got the information that Abok Ayuba, the former speaker who was impeached on October 28, 2021, got judgment in his favour to be reinstated.
“The members had unrestricted and unfettered access to the assembly complex, which is a clear testimony that the assembly was unsealed before that judgment was passed. But we got information that some mischievous persons who, based on intelligence, mobilised to ensure that they gained unrestricted access by all means to the assembly complex.
“I took the decision to seal the assembly complex to ensure that the State House of Assembly is safe and that neither life nor property is lost,” Onyeka stated.
He said that based on the intelligence at his disposal, members of the assembly were invited with their lawyers to his office and advised to avoid anything that would lead to the breakdown of law and order.
He said, “It will be negligence and dereliction of duty on my part as the commissioner of police if, having gotten the intelligence, I fail to do that for which I am here to do.
“The deployment of police personnel to the assembly wasn’t targeted at any group or persons but to maintain peace, protect lives and property.”
The commissioner appealed to the people of Plateau to avoid being used by any person or group of persons to achieve their self-serving and selfish ambitions.
He urged all law-abiding citizens 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.
