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Plateau Fact-Finding Committee Commends Jos North Leadership as Chairman Identifies Drug Abuse, Cultism as Key Security Threats

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The Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council, Barr. Christopher Kyohroh John, has identified cultism and drug abuse as the main drivers of insecurity in the area—unlike other LGAs across Plateau State, where land grabbing, cattle rustling, and inter-communal violence are more prominent.

He made this known during an assessment visit by the Plateau State Fact-Finding Committee on Thursday, July 13, 2025, at the council secretariat in Jos.

The committee, constituted by His Excellency Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to investigate the root causes of recurring violence across Plateau from 2001 to date, was received by the council chairman alongside local stakeholders and security operatives.

Led by retired Major General Nicholas Rogers, the ten-man committee comprises notable Nigerians from diverse backgrounds, including AVM Ibrahim Shafi’i (Rtd), Mr. Segun Adeniyi (Chief Editor of ThisDay), Jonathan Kure (Rtd SSS), Lawan Usman Safana (Rtd SSS), Justice Esther Lolo (Rtd), Yakubu Bawa (Legal Practitioner), Gad Shamaki (Civil Society Leader), Amina Elelu-Ahmed (Ex-Director Legal, NOA), and Barr. Timothy Parlong, the committee secretary and a retired permanent secretary in Plateau State.

Speaking during the visit, Gen. Rogers reaffirmed the committee’s mission, saying:

“We are here to listen, to assess, and to provide recommendations to His Excellency that will help restore peace and development to this land. We want to understand why the crisis has lingered for so long and what solutions can be explored.”

Barr. Christopher Kyohroh welcomed the delegation and thanked Governor Mutfwang for assembling what he described as “a team of great minds” to help find lasting peace in Plateau.

“Our security challenges in Jos North are mostly internal — drug abuse, cultism, occasional kidnapping, and proliferation of arms. These are not terrorist attacks or ethnic clashes but homegrown issues that require collective action,” he noted.

During a closed-door stakeholders’ meeting, the committee engaged with heads of security agencies, NDLEA officials, community and religious leaders, women and youth representatives, and members of the council. The engagement revealed a general consensus on the threat posed by youth involvement in drugs and cult-related violence.

Committee Secretary, Barr. Timothy Parlong, assured participants of the panel’s impartiality:

“Only one of us is from Plateau, but we are united by our commitment to justice and peace. We are not here with bias but with a shared national interest.”

Gad Shamaki, a member of the committee and President of the University of Jos Alumni Association, warned that drug addiction among youth could have far-reaching consequences:

“If we allow this decay to fester, we are losing a generation. Families and communities must take responsibility. The NDLEA needs support, but so do parents, schools, and local leaders.”

To further understand the depth of the problem, the committee toured known hotspots for drug use and cult activity, including the Congo-Russia community, a settlement within the LGA. There, they were shown makeshift joints and hideouts used by youths for illicit activities.

Joshua Daniel, leader of the Congo-Russia community, expressed concern:

“Our biggest problem is drug abuse. Many of the young people involved are not even from this community, yet we are the ones affected. We need help to reclaim our space.”

Addressing the media after the tour, Committee Chairman Gen. Rogers commended Jos North for its relative stability:

“Unlike other LGAs where we’ve seen land disputes and mass killings, Jos North is dealing with internal threats like drugs and cultism. That is commendable, and the local leadership deserves credit for taking proactive steps.”

Barr. Kyohroh echoed similar sentiments, noting that while the area had enjoyed calm recently, the fight against illicit drugs and youth criminality must intensify.

“We have taken measures to prevent escalation, but more is needed. The use of drugs emboldens these youths and fuels isolated killings. We need support at every level to tackle this.”

The committee’s findings in Jos North add another dimension to its ongoing assessments across Plateau State and will form part of its comprehensive report to Governor Mutfwang in the coming weeks.

 

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SENATOR I. D. GYANG SAYS PLATEAU NORTH AWAITS JUSTICE FROM THE NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE OF THE APC.

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The recent developments surrounding the APC Senatorial Primary Election in Plateau North have raised serious concerns among party faithful and lovers of democracy.

It is deeply troubling that members were denied the free and fair opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice through a transparent democratic process.

The foundation of every credible democracy rests upon the sanctity of the people’s mandate, internal party democracy, fairness, and due process.

While political leadership and influence remain legitimate within party politics, the imposition of outcomes against the popular will of party members weakens confidence in democratic institutions and risks alienating loyal stakeholders who have laboured tirelessly for the growth and stability of the party.

It is public knowledge that the Senatorial primary elections were not conducted in Plateau North. Rather, results were concocted and allocated to suit a predetermined outcome. It would therefore be injurious to, and a negation of good conscience and the fear of God for anyone to assert the contrary.

The strength of the APC has always been its people — the grassroots members whose voices and votes must never be substituted by predetermined arrangements.

We have noted that the national chairman of the APC has clarified that the National Working Committee is studying the reports of the Appeal Committee on the conduct of the National Assembly primary elections after which the right thing will be done.

In view of the foregoing, we urge our supporters and party faithful to remain vigilant and peaceful as Plateau North awaits justice from the National Working Committee.

Our position is predicated and rooted in the defence of justice, equity, and the democratic rights of APC members and the people of Plateau North.

Comrade Lot Adas
Director General
I. D. Gyang Campaign Council.

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D’Tigers’ Former Coach Mike Brown Hogs All Headlines, Following Sterling Run With New York Knicks In NBA

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The name of a former head coach of Nigeria’s men’s basketball national team, D’Tigers, is hogging all headlines in United States of America, as Mike Brown has taken the country’s National Basketball Association (NBA) by storm.

Sports247 reports that Brown, who handled D’Tigers from 2020 to 2022, is leading what has been described as an ‘unbelievable’ NBA title charge for New York Knicks, who also have Nigerian-born Ogugua ‘OG’ Anunoby among their best players.

With Anunoby doing well on the court and Brown firing technical details from the sideline, The Knicks’ run through the 2026 NBA play-offs has been majestic and they enacted yet another huge win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Victory for Brown’s team put Cleveland Cavaliers on the brink of elimination and drew The Knicks 48 minutes closer to an NBA Finals return after more than 25 years, thereby making memories of July 7th, 2025 most symbolic – when they hired him as coach.

That came five years after Brown was announced as the head coach of Nigeria’s men’s team on February 5th, 2020 and his latest deal has been filled with great results, leading to The Knicks’ current surge on a remarkable return to NBA coaching for the tactician.

Before now, Brown hadn’t made the championship round from the bench since 2007, being the longest gap for any coach in NBA history, and his future seemed uncertain after he was fired during his third term at Sacramento Kings in the 2024-25 season.

Incidentally, Brown earlier had two stints with The Cavaliers before taking up the job in Nigeria, but he had yet to reach a magical point with any franchise, until a 130-93 Game 4 win on Monday, another blowout in a closeout, and his name is now ringing loud bells.

Headlines now reveal that Brown is the first Knicks’ head coach – since Jeff Van Gundy in 1999 – who would have a chance to compete for the real thing, while many incredible events of the past month – 11 consecutive wins and two straight series sweeps – have set tongues wagging.

The Knicks are also blowing opponents’ doors off by nearly 22 points per 100 non-garbage-time possessions, a margin twice as large as either Western Conference finalist, and New York City appears ready to flaunt NBA’s latest champs in the coming month.

Brown, though, appeared ready all along for the pressure that came with NBA Finals, meeting up to great expectations and ready for the challenge of utilising all he has learnt in three decades on various benches into getting results from his squad.

His past reads like a majestic voyage – Washington Wizards (assistant coach), San Antonio Spurs (assistant), Indiana Pacers (assistant), Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors (associate HC) and Sacramento Kings.

Apart from calling technical shots, Brown also knows how to motivate the lads, as he praised his players for remaining determined for success – despite their recent roll call of huge results and reign of success – and he is repeatedly ready to applaud their form in this post-season.

“(It’s) more so about these players, and they want to go try to get a ring. If an opportunity came up, great; if it didn’t, you know, shoot, I felt lucky, blessed, fortunate. I had a good run, you know? I felt that at some point, I’d get another.

“Whether it was a head coach or an assistant coaching position. I just kind of rolled with it. Didn’t think much about it. Obviously, this opportunity came up. You know, from afar, I just felt that this team was ready,” Brown submitted.

Sports247 reports further that, while the route still appears rough heading into the 2026 NBA Finals, Brown can think about what being the first Knicks’ coach to hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy since Red Holzman in 1973 would mean for him.

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