FG gives Plateau fiat to prosecute perpetrators of attacks

The Federal Government has given the Plateau State Government the fiat to prosecute perpetrators of attacks on the state.

Secretary to the State Government, Samuel Jatau, made this known while addressing  newsmen on Wednesday in Jos.

He spoke shortly after the State Security Council meeting at Government House, Jos, presided by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Plateau State has been recently bedevilled with series of  continuous attacks in communities in Mangu Local Government Area and other parts of the state, where 300 lives have been reported lost.

The SSG said that Muftwang’s administration has the will power to put an end to the attacks.

“We have procured the fiat to prosecute any crime here in Plateau State and that is the main target,” Jatau said.

He said that the meeting was held to review the security situation in the state, particularly in the crisis prone areas.

According to him, peace was being restored in the crisis area.

He however said that there was still the need to step up efforts and sustain it.

“This government has the political will, have the zeal and we are willing to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this crime,” Jatau said.

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He explained that the government was taking insecurity in Plateau State with all seriousness, which was demonstrated by the visit of the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, to the state on assessment tour.

He said that Plateau was chosen by IGP Egbetokun as the first state to visit in his nationwide tour, which was extended to Mangu for on the spot assessment because of the urgency to address the situation.

He added that the meeting was convened to also welcome to the Council the new General Officer Commanding, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Abdulsami Ibrahim, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brigadier General Gakji Shipi.

Explaining further on the procurement of the fiat, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Plateau State, Philemon Dafi, said the state has suffered from lack of prosecution of conflict perpetrators, which could be one of the major reasons to the lingering insecurity.

Dafi said: “Now, we in the state have suffered a dearth of lack of prosecution of cases since the Plateau crisis, 22 years down the road.

“Nobody has ever been prosecuted, successfully convicted and sentenced to any term of imprisonment for 22 years.

“This is quite sad and the perpetrators of this crime are not ghosts. 

“They are human beings, body and flesh. 

“Nobody has had the political capacity, strength and legal equipment to do so.

“We have procured the Federal Attorney-General’s fiat to insist that such offence whether federal or state must and should be prosecuted in the state and conviction sustained.”