TheNewsGuru

Tag: Plateau State

  • Lalong appoints new Govt. House Chaplain

    Lalong appoints new Govt. House Chaplain

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, has approved the appointment of Rev. Fr. Godfrey Gopep as the new Chaplain of the Government House Chapel Jos.

    This is is contained in a statement issued by Dr. Makut Macham Lalong’s, Director of Press and Public Affairs, on Saturday in Jos, which said the approval is with immediate effect.

    According to the statement, the cleric who is currently the Priest in Charge of St Finbarr’s Parish, Rayfield Jos, is to fill the vacuum created by the departure of Rev. David Ajang.

    Ajang was appointed by Pope Francis as the Bishop of Lafia Diocese.

    The new Chaplain, born in 1982, was ordained a Catholic Priest on Oct. 15 2011 at the then Holy Cross Parish Pankshin now Holy Cross Cathedral Pankshin.

    He had served as assistant parish priest, St Jarlath Bukuru; and St. John Vianney Seminary Barkin Ladi, among others.

  • Missing UNIJOS student found dead in hotel with eyes gouged out

    Missing UNIJOS student found dead in hotel with eyes gouged out

    A student identified as Miss Jennifer Anthony of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State, who went missing, has been found dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Miss Anthony was a 300 level Special Education and Rehabilitation Sciences student of UNIJOS.

    She went missing on December 31, 2021, New Year’s Eve and all attempts to find her proved abortive until her body was recovered in a hotel in Jos with both eyes gouged out, indicating she may have been killed for ritual purposes.

    One Daniel Olugbenga Adediran had earlier appealed to the public for help in locating her whereabouts.

    “We haven’t seen or heard from her for some days… Please if you have seen her somewhere from 31st December 2021 please let us know 08135892060 09069498376 300 level Student Special Education and Rehabilitation sciences @ university of Jos Her name is Jennifer Anthony.,” he wrote.

    TNG reports it was later revealed that Anthony had died and the Police command in Jos has confirmed her death.

    ASP Ubah Ogaba, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, confirmed Anthony’s death in a statement on Thursday in Jos.

    He stated that Mr Bartholomew Onyeka, the Police Commissioner in Plateau has met with hoteliers in Jos to fashion out ways of improving security of customers who patronise their facilities.

    Ogaba stated that the meeting followed the incident where the dead body of the young UNIJOS student was found in a hotel room in Jos.

    The lifeless body of the young lady was found at the hotel on Jan. 1, with her eyes removed, the police confirmed in the statement.

    “Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police sent a team of detectives to the scene where photographs of the deceased were taken and the corpse was deposited at the morgue for autopsy.

    “Meanwhile, an investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death in order to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

    “Consequently, the commissioner held an emergency meeting with all hoteliers in the state where he exposed them to various workable security tips on how to secure their hotels to avert the recurrence of such ugly incident,” he stated.

    Ogaba advised residents of the state to be vigilant and security conscious, particularly on places they visit at night.

    He also called on the residents to avail any useful information that will lead to the arrest of those behind the death of the student to security agencies.

  • Nigerian kidnappers truly gone PLC, demand N.5bn to release Plateau monarch

    Nigerian kidnappers truly gone PLC, demand N.5bn to release Plateau monarch

    Nigerian kidnappers have truly gone commercial as the abductors of a Plateau monarch are demanding for a minimum of N500m ransom to release him.

    The Traditional Ruler and the paramount ruler of Pyem Chiefdom of Gindiri in Mangu Local Government of Plateau State, His Royal Highness, Charles Mato Dakat who was kidnapped on Boxing day.

    This was revealed by a source close to the traditional Council (name withheld) on Tuesday that the abductors spoke to some members of the traditional Council through the cell phone of the paramount ruler. “Yes, we were able to communicate with them. It was the paramount ruler who first called and spoke to us.

    It would be recalled that the traditional ruler was abducted from his palace in the early hours of Sunday 26th December, 2021 by kidnappers suspected to be Fulani bandits.
    Since the abduction, there has not been any statement from the Plateau State government on the issue.

    However the Gindiri Old Students Association (GOSA) which the traditional ruler is a member has called on its members to sustain prayers for his release.

    A statement signed and issued by the Spokesman of the Association Yakubu Taddy said GOSA received with shock and sadness the kidnap of the paramount ruler of Gindiri and one of its very active members, His Royal Highness, Charles Mato Dakat in the early hours of Sunday 26 December, 2021.

    “The GOSA President, Engr Sunday Hyat in a statement in Jos prayed that the abductors reconsider their stand and immediately release the monarch.

    “Hyat said since becoming the Sum Pyem, Charles Mato Dakat has become a rallying point for unity and progress of not only the Pyem people but Mangu Local Government and the country at large.

    “He noted that the Sum Pyem’s leadership has ensured that educational institutions, particularly in the Gindiri Compound strive in his jurisdiction without rancour.

  • Gunmen abduct traditional ruler in Plateau

    Gunmen abduct traditional ruler in Plateau

    Gunmen abducted Mr Charles Mato, the Sum Pyem, and paramount ruler of Gindri, in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau on Sunday.

    Maj. Ishaku Takwa, Media Officer of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the military task force maintaining peace in the state, confirmed the abduction.

    He told newsmen on Sunday in Jos that Mato was kidnapped from his residence at Gindiri.

    He said troops of the task force had been mobilised to the area to conduct search and rescue.

    “Troops of OPSH at Gyambus in Mangu have been mobilised to the area. They are on the trail of the kidnappers,’’ Takwa said.

  • Gunmen kill 9, injure 4 persons in Plateau

    Gunmen kill 9, injure 4 persons in Plateau

    The Police Command in Plateau, has said that gunmen have killed nine persons and injured four others in an attack on Pinau community in Wase Local Government Area of the state.

    ASP Ubah Ogaba, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command said in a statement on Monday in Jos that the incident occurred on Sunday evening.

    He, however, said security agencies who quickly mobilised to the scene had arrested eight suspects and recovered 12 motorcycles.

    “Yesterday, at about 4:30p.m., we received a distress call that yet to be identified gunmen invaded Pinau Village in Wase local government area.

    “Unfortunately, they killed nine persons while four persons are injured.

    “Upon receipt of the information, a combined team of Policemen, men of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and other security agencies were mobilised and swiftly moved to the scene.

    “Eight suspects were arrested and 12 motorcycles recovered from the scene,” he said.

    The PPRO said effort was on to arrest other fleeing members of gang.

    Ogaba said that security has been beefed up in the area to prevent escalation of violence and break down of law and order. (

  • BREAKING: Bandits strike again in Plateau State, kill 10

    BREAKING: Bandits strike again in Plateau State, kill 10

    No fewer than 10 people have been reportedly killed while scores of others sustained various degrees of injuries on Sunday evening when suspected bandits attacked Pinau town in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    According to reports, the incident happened after the villagers had finished from their weekly community market.

    A member of the community, Hamman Sale, who confirmed the development, said the suspected bandits were from Zamfara State.

    The spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Gabriel Ubah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the incident, added that the Command was yet to get full details on the attack.

    Details shortly…

  • 10 dead, 252 inmates at large in aftermath of Jos prison break

    10 dead, 252 inmates at large in aftermath of Jos prison break

    The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has said that one of its Personnel and nine inmates serving their jail terms were killed when gunmen attacked the Jos Correctional Centre on Sunday.

    Mr Francis Enobore, the National Public Relations Officer of the service, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Jos.

    The gunmen attacked the facility on Sunday evening, and according to Enobore, 262 inmates also escaped from the facility during the incident, adding that 10 of them were later arrested.

    He explained that one of the attackers was neutralised during exchange of fire between the armed squad of the service and the gunmen.

    He also said that one of the personnel of the service and six inmates were severely injured during the attack.

    “One of the gunmen trapped within the Medium Security Custodial Center, Jos after invading the facility has been identified as one of those killed in the gun duel.

    “Sadly, one of our armed squad personnel paid the supreme price in the encounter, while nine inmates also lost their lives.

    “Another staff of the Service was shot in the hand and six inmates were also injured in the attack.

    “Meanwhile, some of the attackers and a total of 262 inmates escaped in the melee before reinforcement could come from sister services.

    “However, 10 have so far been recaptured leaving 252 at large,”he said.

    The national PRO said that the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa had condoled with the family and friends of the gallant officer who paid the ultimate price in the encounter and promised that his death would not be in vain

    Nababa promised to go after all the perpetrators and be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    He thanked the officers and men of other security agencies for the support in bringing the situation under control and assured members of the public that the safety of inmates including their care and support, would continue to be the top priority of his administration.

    He called for collaboration from Nigerians to apprehend the fleeing inmates by volunteering credible intelligence that could nip such ugly incidents in the bud.

    The Jos Medium Security Custodial Centre as at the time of the attack had 1,060 inmates comprising 560 pre-trial detainees and 500 convicts.

  • Jos prison attack: Police arrest 8 fleeing inmates

    Jos prison attack: Police arrest 8 fleeing inmates

    The Police Command in Plateau says it has arrested eight of the inmates who had earlier escaped during the attack on the Jos Correctional centre by gunmen.

    ASP Ubah Ogaba, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Jos.

    Gunmen on Sunday evening invaded the prison yard and some of the inmates escaped from the facility.

    Ogaba said that of the eight fleeing inmates, seven were rearrested by the police while one voluntarily surrendered himself.

    “Yesterday, at about 5:20 p.m., the medium-security custodial centre in Jos came under attack by yet-to-be identified gunmen.

    “Immediately we received the report, the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Bartholomew Onyeka, who led reinforcement to the scene, directed that the entire centre be cordoned.

    “The CP also ordered immediate stop and search and seven inmates who escaped were re-arrested by the Police and are in Custody.

    “One of them voluntarily surrendered himself to the Police,” Ogaba said.

    The PPRO said that Policemen and other security personnel are currently on the ground to effectively deprive the hoodlums of the space they desire to perpetrate their evil acts.

    Ogaba promised to make details available as the search for the other escaped inmates continues.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen trapped inside Jos prison after attacking custodial centre

    BREAKING: Gunmen trapped inside Jos prison after attacking custodial centre

    Jos prison, the Medium Security Custodial Centre in the capital of Plateau State came under attack by gunmen who reportedly stormed the facility in large numbers with sophisticated weapons.

    The invaders were said to have arrived at the Custodial Center at about 17:20hrs on Sunday and immediately made for the main gate where they engaged the armed squad personnel in a gun battle before breaking into the yard.

    Although they gained entrance to the yard, they are however trapped within as men from sister security services were immediately mobilised to assist the armed guards to cordon the perimeter wall and the entire area.

    According to a statement by Francis Enobore, Controller of Corrections PRO for the Controller-General of Corrections, reinforcements from the response squad of the Service have also been mobilised to the centre.

    “The situation is presently under control as the attackers firing power is being subdued by superior fire from a combined team of security agencies. Update will be made available as events unfold,” the statement reads.

  • Plateau Assembly confirms Lalong’s PLASIEC nominees

    Plateau Assembly confirms Lalong’s PLASIEC nominees

    The Plateau State House of Assembly has confirmed the nominees for Chairman and members of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) earlier submitted to it by Gov. Simon Lalong.

    A statement by the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Sabastine Homuk, said that the confirmation was done at an executive session of the assembly on Nov. 15.

    The resolution indicated that, given the bad state of the PLHA chamber and with no alternative facility yet provided for purposes of the house’s sittings, the executive session became imperative.

    The statement said that the confirmation followed a communication from Gov. Lalong dated 12th November, 2021 requesting for their confirmation by the house.

    The governor had in the communication said that the tenure of PLASIEC chairman and members would expire on Nov. 15, 2021.

    Lalong said that the reappointment of the commission’s members was in line with Section 4 (5) of the law establishing the body.

    According to him, the request become necessary as the commission had just concluded local governments elections and that the experience of the members was needed to handle the legal issues that followed.

    Those confirmed include; Mr Fabian Ntung- Chairman, Lamindi Kaiwani, Joshua Ndom Partrick Mamgin, Hafsat Amin, Peter Danbenji and James Dashan as members.

    The statement added that the confirmation had since been forwarded to the governor for further necessary action.