Troops of Sector 1 of Operation Enduring Peace, OPEP, on Tuesday, successfully thwarted an armed robbery attempt at the residence of a pastor in Hwol Buju community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Media Information Officer of OPEP, Captain Polycarp Oteh, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said troops of the security outfit were alerted to the attack on the residence of the man of God identified as Pastor Inyam Inyam in the early hours of Tuesday and promptly swung into action, forcing the assailants to abandon their operation and flee.

Captain Oteh said the troops responded to reports of gunshots at the residence of the pastor and the swift intervention of the troops disrupted the attack and compelled the suspected armed robbers to escape before carrying out their mission.

“Upon receiving the distress report, troops moved to the area and engaged in efforts that forced the criminals to flee the scene.

“The suspects abandoned their operation and escaped before security forces arrived,” the OPEP spokesman said.

He added that the pastor and his daughter, Hannatu Inyam, sustained injuries during the incident and were evacuated to a hospital in Mista-Ali for medical treatment.

“A spent 7.62mm special ammunition casing was recovered at the scene as part of ongoing investigations.

“Medical examination later indicated that the female victim had been sexually assaulted during the attack,” he added.

The statement also stated that a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the fleeing suspects while investigations have commenced into the incident.

He urged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in locating the suspects and preventing similar incidents, while reaffirming OPEP’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Plateau State and other areas within the joint operations area.

The Plateau State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, has commenced a two-day orientation and induction workshop for newly absorbed NG-CARES staff into the state civil service.

The workshop, organised by the Plateau State CARES Coordinating Unit (PL-SCCU), is holding from Wednesday, June 10 to Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Millennium International Conference Centre, opposite Solomon Lar Amusement Park, Jos.

The programme, which also featured participants drawn from various backgrounds, is aimed at integrating contract staff into the formal civil service structure while strengthening their understanding of public service rules, ethics, and performance expectations.

Speaking during the opening session, the State Coordinator of NG-CARES, Dr. Haggai Gutap, said the absorption of staff into the civil service was a deliberate policy by the state government to retain trained human capital and avoid the recurrent loss of skilled personnel after programme cycles.

He explained that previous World Bank-supported interventions often relied on contract staff who were disengaged after project completion, leading to the loss of institutional capacity. According to him, the current approach ensures sustainability and continuity in governance.

“This set of people have been trained over the years, and letting them go would mean incurring losses as a state. The Governor believes in human capital development and has approved their absorption to retain their expertise,” he said.

Dr. Gutap further noted that the NG-CARES programme operates on a results-based financing model, where disbursements from the World Bank are tied strictly to performance outcomes, stressing the need for efficiency, teamwork, and adherence to operational guidelines.

He added that the state is transitioning into NG-CARES 2.0, aimed at consolidating achievements and maintaining Plateau State’s leading position in programme implementation nationwide.

Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman of the Plateau State Civil Service Commission, Prof. Paul S. Wai, described the induction as a significant milestone, noting that absorption into the civil service goes beyond employment to becoming part of a structured system guided by rules, values, and institutional traditions.

He urged the new officers to uphold professionalism, integrity, accountability, loyalty, and discipline, stressing that ignorance of civil service regulations is not an excuse for non-compliance.

“The Civil Service remains the permanent machinery of government. Your success depends on your competence, dedication, and adherence to established rules and procedures,” he said.

Prof. Wai further encouraged continuous learning, merit-based progression, and result-oriented performance, noting that government expects improved service delivery and innovation from civil servants.

He also commended the administration of Governor Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for its commitment to building a professional, technology-driven civil service and for absorbing qualified NG-CARES personnel into the system.

In a goodwill message, the representative of the Head of Civil Service and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Rebecca Shaset, described the initiative as timely, noting that the civil service is governed strictly by rules and procedures.

She urged the newly inducted staff to demonstrate accountability, competence, dedication, and commitment to duty in order to build public confidence in government institutions.

“As civil servants, you must comply with the rules and show dedication to effectively deliver services to the public,” she said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Gladys Lircit Sodo, Deputy Director (Administration), Plateau State Ministry of Finance, who represented the Commissioner for Finance and Chairperson of the State Steering Committee on NG-CARES, encouraged participants to engage actively in the training, share experiences, and prepare for effective programme implementation.

She commended the organisers for equipping the new staff with the necessary orientation, describing NG-CARES as a critical intervention programme requiring commitment and readiness for impact-driven delivery.

The workshop, supported by the World Bank through World Bank and implemented under the NG-CARES framework, is expected to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance service delivery in Plateau State’s public service system.