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Plateau Fact-Finding Committee Commends Jos North Leadership as Chairman Identifies Drug Abuse, Cultism as Key Security Threats
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.
The Yobe State Government has approved the enrolment of state and local government retirees into the Social Equity Programme of its health insurance scheme.
The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA), Babagana Tijjani, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Damaturu.
Mr Tijjani said the approval was granted by Governor Mai Mala Buni following a recommendation from the agency.
He said the initiative aims to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending among pensioners and improve access to comprehensive, quality healthcare services at YSCHMA-accredited health facilities.
According to him, the approval underscores the state government’s commitment to improving the welfare of retirees by ensuring they continue to access quality healthcare after retirement.
“This approval is another demonstration of the governor’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of residents of the state,” he said.
“By bringing retirees under the social equity programme, the government is ensuring that senior citizens can access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.”
The executive secretary further said that the inclusion of retirees in the scheme aligned with the administration’s healthcare reform agenda and the state’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
He also described the development as a significant step in expanding access to healthcare and strengthening social protection.
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Mr Tijjani commended the governor for approving the initiative and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to its effective implementation.
He said the YSCHMA would work closely with pension unions, relevant government institutions and healthcare providers to ensure a transparent enrolment process and seamless access to healthcare services for eligible beneficiaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the YSCHMA was established under Yobe State Law No. 7 of 2019 to implement the state’s contributory healthcare scheme and promote equitable, affordable and qualitative healthcare services for residents.
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