A member Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Gyendeng has been released by Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) – a multi taskforce security command saddled with the responsibility of restoring and maintaining peace in Plateau state.
Hon. Gyendeng a member representing Barikin Ladi constituency was alleged to have been detained at the command’s headquarters in Jos at about 1:00pm today when he attempted negotiating the release of a youth that was arrested by the command about two months ago.
The lawmaker was later released at about 6pm.
Plateau lawmaker ‘detained’ by OPSH
Simon Gimba, a driver of the lawmaker who spoke with the Daily Trust said the legislator left him in Barikin Ladi after he told him that he was going to command’s headquarters in Jos to negotiate for the bail of one youth arrested in connection with a riot and protest as a result of incessant killings in their community.
Gimba said he was notified about the arrest when one of the security details of the lawmaker called him around 3pm.
He said, “I rushed to the headquarters but I wasn’t allowed to see my boss, some security men at the headquarters told me that they kept him until their Commander come back.”
When contacted the Media and Information Officer of the command, Major Adam Umar said he wasn’t aware of the arrest.
He said, “I am not aware of the arrest, it hasn’t reached my desk, but I will inquire and get back to you.”
When sent a reminder text on whether the lawmaker is in the command’s custody, he later replied, “no he is not, thank you.”
As of the time of filing this report, the phone number of the legislator wasn’t reachable, but his driver later confirmed that the lawmaker was released at about 6pm.
He said, “I spoke with my boss, he was released at about 6pm, he is home now, but the youth that he went for his bail is still in detention.”