News

Plateau Security Adviser Stirs Debate, Declares Fulani as Indigenes of State

Published

11 months ago

August 16, 2025

vicky

The Special Adviser on Security to Plateau State Governor, Brig. Gen. G. Shipi (rtd), has stirred fresh debate over indigeneship in Plateau by declaring that the Fulani community are not strangers but indigenes of the state.

Gen. Shipi made the assertion during a one-day sensitization programme on peace and peaceful coexistence, held at the Sharna Palace in Jos, where Fulani men and women drawn from all 17 local government areas of the state were in attendance.

Condemning the perception that Fulani people are outsiders with no indigenous rights in Plateau, the Security Adviser insisted they are an integral part of the state and should be recognized as such.

“If people try to push you out, try to bring yourself back because you are indigenes of the state. Are you not? Nobody should tell you that the state doesn’t belong to you. Whoever says you are not from the state, tell them no, you belong to the state,” he told the gathering.

Gen. Shipi further urged the Fulani to channel grievances through appropriate state structures instead of relying solely on security operatives.

“Whenever something happens, you see people rushing to inform the soldiers or the police, but they will not tell me or the Plateau Peace Building Agency. We are the representatives of the government, not the soldiers. If your cattle are rustled or killed and you don’t tell us but rush to GOC, later you say the government has not done anything about it. You didn’t tell the government,” he said.

He explained that while the military and police are doing their best, they represent federal authorities, not the state government, stressing that security challenges should also be reported through official state channels.

On youth engagement, the Security Adviser encouraged members of the Fulani community to submit names of those interested in joining the military through the state government for inclusion in Plateau’s recruitment quota.

He also urged parents to prioritize education for their children, noting that schooling remains key to the community’s development and to fostering peace across the state.

Related Topics:‘Fulani indigenes'plateau SA on Security

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News

‘No police officer can demand access to phones without court warrant’ – Plateau CP

Published

26 minutes ago

July 9, 2026

Preport

The Plateau State Police Command has warned its personnel that no officer has the legal authority to stop any citizen on the road and demand access to the contents of their mobile phone without a court warrant.

The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Bassey Ewah, gave the warning in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred.

The statement read, “In line with his unwavering stance against misconduct and unprofessional behaviour by Police personnel, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bassey Ewah, wishes to reiterate unequivocally, that no officer or personnel of the Plateau State Police Command has the legal authority to stop any citizen and demand access to or search the contents of their mobile phone on the road without a court warrant.”

He urged residents to politely resist such unlawful demands and report any officer found engaging in the practice through the command’s complaint channels.

The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to lawful policing and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights.

According to him, the Plateau State Police Command remained committed to protecting the lives, property and rights of all Plateau citizens, adding, “We assure the good people of the State of our continued commitment to ensuring effective policing in line with the law and global best practices.”

Health

Ebola death toll in DR Congo reaches 600

Published

29 minutes ago

July 9, 2026

Preport

The Congolese government has announced that the death toll in the country’s latest Ebola outbreak has reached 600.

New suspected cases of Ebola had been reported in parts of Congo that were previously unaffected, the government said.

The latest report, published late Wednesday, said two new cases were suspected in Kisangani in the Tshopo province, where cases had not been previously recorded.

“The total number of confirmed cases across the country has now reached 1,759.”

According to the report, one of the two suspected cases was linked to the Nia-Nia health zone in Ituri province, where the first cases were reported.

The other case “has no apparent geographical connection to known outbreaks.”

Authorities are still investigating, the report said.

The Congolese authorities declared a fresh Ebola outbreak on 15 May, after the disease had been transmitted for weeks without official detection, according to the World Health Organisation.

READ ALSO: WHO warns as largest-ever Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak surpasses 1,400 cases

The latest outbreak was caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment.

Earlier clinical trials for treatment began after researchers instituted a highly anticipated study in the hope of fighting the virus.

Efforts to contain the virus have also been hampered by a funding gap, attacks on health centres, and an ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak.

(AP/NAN)