Jingir Opposes State Police, Alleges Plot to Destabilise Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

The debate over the proposed establishment of state police has taken a fresh turn in Plateau State following remarks by prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, who cautioned against the initiative and alleged attempts by political actors to destabilise the state.

Jingir, the National Chairman, Council of Ulama, Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), headquartered in Jos, expressed reservations over granting states the authority to establish their own police formations.

The cleric warned that, in a politically polarised environment like Plateau, state-controlled security outfits could be misused against perceived political opponents.

“Tell us, when he was in power, who has become rich? How many Berom has he killed? How many Fulani has he killed? How many Hausas and Christians has he killed? Even those that are close to him, some people said that he was the one that led to the harvesting of their kidney. It was alleged. We have been hearing so. He removed the kidney of those close to him, talk more of you,” said Jingir.

He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exercise caution in considering proposals for decentralised policing, arguing that safeguards must be firmly in place to prevent abuse.

Jingir’s intervention comes amid renewed national conversations on restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture. Proponents of state police argue that decentralisation would enhance rapid response and local intelligence gathering. Critics, however, fear potential politicisation in states with deeply divided political and ethno-religious landscapes.

In his remarks, Jingir suggested that certain political actors in Plateau might exploit state police structures to target individuals perceived as unsympathetic to their ideology. He emphasised the need to prioritise peace and stability over partisan interests.

“Some certain issues, they will pretend as if everything has gone down, but they will just raise it up when the security outfit is established. They say they should establish police in every state. If anyone says he will accept this, are we going to accept it?” worshippers chanted, “Not at all.” “You know how they cheated us. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some of these politicians are not as good as you, they are not as good as someone like Kashim Shettima. Wallahi, if you grant them the permission to establish police, they will start killing those that are not inclined with their political ideology.”

The cleric also alluded to alleged efforts by a former governor of the state to foment instability for political advantage, though he did not provide specific evidence. He expressed the view that the current governor should not be held responsible for recent tensions and urged him to remain focused on governance and peacebuilding.

“Even before giving them the police, they are already killing people,” he said, apparently referring to the former governor. He added that it could be possible that he was the one who orchestrated his people (Berom youths) to attack innocent commuters on the road.

Jingir exonerated the present Governor, Mutfwang, saying: “In my own thinking, the governor does not have any hand in the crises. This new governor that became the governor (Mutfwang), was it the old governor that put him there? If the former one could make him become governor, then why did he not continue as governor?”

Despite his criticisms, Jingir reiterated the importance of peace and coexistence in Plateau, urging leaders across divides to avoid actions capable of reigniting crisis. He called on both Muslim and Christian communities to prioritise dialogue and mutual respect.

He prayed that the wickedness allegedly being planned against the present governor would be exposed and brought to shame. He urged the governor to continue working in the way of God and not allow anyone to intimidate him into actions that could bring crisis into the state.

Zagazola reports that political alignments in Plateau have undergone notable shifts in recent years, with cross-party movements and alliances reshaping the state’s landscape. Analysts note that such realignments often intensify rhetoric, particularly as stakeholders begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Plateau’s politics has historically reflected the state’s complex ethno-religious composition, especially in Jos North, where questions of indigeneship and political representation have shaped contestations for decades.

While the state has experienced relative calm compared to earlier periods of widespread violence, underlying tensions remain sensitive. Public statements by influential religious and political figures therefore carry significant weight in shaping public perception and intergroup relations.

Zagazola cautions that in a fragile environment, inflammatory or accusatory rhetoric regardless of source can heighten suspicion and polarisation, stressing the need for measured communication and fact-based engagement, particularly when discussing sensitive security reforms such as state policing.

As discussions on security restructuring continue at the national level, Plateau remains a microcosm of the broader debate: balancing local autonomy with safeguards against politicisation, while ensuring that peace and public trust are not compromised.

For many residents, the overriding concern remains stability. With political activities gradually building toward 2027, stakeholders say the tone and substance of public discourse will play a critical role in determining whether Plateau consolidates calm or re-enters a cycle of heightened tension.

Jingir Opposes State Police, Alleges Plot to Destabilise Plateau

NAN Staff Seek Urgent Protection Over Alleged Land Grabbing, Threats in Ibadan

By: Michael Mike

Tension is mounting in Ibadan as staff members of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have formally petitioned the Oyo State Real Property Protection Agency over what they describe as a brazen invasion of their legally acquired housing estate land.

The affected workers are alleging forceful entry, destruction of property and threats to life on a 35-acre parcel of land located at Butubutu Village in Ona-Ara Local Government Area, on the outskirts of Ibadan.

In a petition dated December 11, 2025, and signed by their solicitor, Ademola Sodamade, the employees accused suspected land speculators of unlawfully encroaching on the property, dismantling boundary beacons and signposts, and damaging installations on the site. The petition named Mr. Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Mrs. Oluwamayowa Ayinde and Mr. Adewale Owoade among verified landowners under the scheme.

According to the petitioners, the land was collectively purchased between 2013 and 2014 through a cooperative housing arrangement established by staff of the NAN Ibadan Zonal Office. Following the acquisition, the land was surveyed, partitioned and allocated to contributors — most of them employees of the agency — after due documentation and perfection of title.

However, the workers alleged that in recent months, a group led by a man identified as Mr. Kazim, popularly known as Abija, forcefully entered the estate without authorization. They claimed the group uprooted survey pillars, removed signposts, destroyed farm produce and openly threatened violence against legitimate owners who attempted to challenge the encroachment.

The petition further alleged that the invaders were making efforts to resell portions of the land to third parties, raising fears of multiple claims and prolonged litigation.

Chairman of the NAN Housing Estate Scheme, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, described the development as distressing and dangerous. He said the housing project was conceived more than a decade ago to enable staff members become property owners through structured monthly contributions.

“It is alarming that hoodlums would invade land legitimately purchased by hardworking Nigerians, destroy installations and issue threats to kill anyone who resists them,” Balogun stated. “We are law-abiding citizens, and we expect the government to protect our rights and investments.”

The petitioners said copies of their complaint — along with purchase agreements, survey plans, photographs and other supporting documents — had also been forwarded to the Olubadan Committee on Land Grabbing, the Office of the Deputy Governor and the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor.

The workers are now calling for immediate intervention to halt further encroachment, restore boundary demarcations and guarantee the safety of landowners.

The incident once again brings to the fore the persistent challenge of land grabbing and property disputes in parts of Oyo State, where enforcement of real property protection laws has become critical to preventing violence and safeguarding legitimate ownership.

As of press time, those accused in the petition had not publicly responded to the allegations.

NAN Staff Seek Urgent Protection Over Alleged Land Grabbing, Threats in Ibadan

283 Illegal Refineries Were Dismantled Under My Watch- Audi

By: Michael Mike

After three decades in uniform, including five years at the helm of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Commandant General Ahmed Abubakar Audi has stepped down, declaring that the Corps under his leadership dealt decisive blows to oil theft and economic sabotage across Nigeria.

Speaking at his valedictory address, Audi revealed that no fewer than 283 illegal refineries were dismantled during his tenure, describing the operations as part of an intensified crackdown on crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and related crimes that have long drained the nation’s revenue and damaged its environment.

He said the Corps strengthened its operational capacity through intelligence-led enforcement, strategic deployments and collaboration with other security agencies. According to him, the destruction of illegal refining sites was complemented by arrests, prosecutions and convictions of suspected economic saboteurs, sending a clear message that attacks on critical national assets would not be tolerated.

Illegal refineries — often makeshift facilities hidden in creeks and remote communities — have been blamed for massive crude losses, environmental pollution and fires. Their operations not only undermine government earnings but also worsen insecurity in oil-producing regions. Audi maintained that disrupting these networks required persistence, improved surveillance and the commitment of personnel across commands nationwide.

Beyond the anti-oil theft campaign, Audi said the NSCDC expanded its mandate in protecting critical infrastructure, managing disaster response efforts and supporting humanitarian interventions. He noted that the Corps repositioned itself as a frontline agency in safeguarding national assets while responding to emerging internal security threats.

Reflecting on his 30-year career, Audi expressed gratitude to officers and men of the Corps, urging them to remain disciplined, professional and patriotic. He emphasized that the gains recorded in the fight against economic sabotage must be sustained and built upon by the incoming leadership.

Security analysts say his exit comes at a time when the battle against crude oil theft remains a top national priority, with authorities under pressure to boost oil production and stabilize revenues. Whether the momentum recorded under Audi will be sustained now rests with his successor, as the Corps continues to confront one of the country’s most entrenched economic crimes.

283 Illegal Refineries Were Dismantled Under My Watch- Audi