Plateau bans all Shiites activities in Jos

Plateau State Government has banned all activities of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiites) in the state with immediate effect.Government said the action was to maintain peace and security as well as ensuring that lives and property of citizens are protected.

A statement yesterday by the Secretary to the State Government, Rufus Bature said the action was sequel to the exercise of the governor’s desire to continue to maintain and sustain the relative peace that is currently being enjoyed in the state. The state warned that any member of the group caught disobeying the order will be apprehended and prosecuted by the relevant law enforcement agencies, adding that all law-abiding citizens should go about their lawful activities as government is committed to ensuring their safety at all times.

In a related development, the Director-General of the National Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Professor Osita Osita, has promised to provide all the technical requirements needed to strengthen the Plateau State Building Agency. He stated this yesterday during a courtesy visit to Governor Simon Lalong at the Presidential Lodge at Government House, Jos.

Osita said the institute had special interest in helping Plateau Peace building agency to realise its goals. He added that the technical support that he had promised is in the areas of peace at the national peace building academy and provision of infrastructure in the state. He expressed gratitude to Lalong for granting approval for partnership between the institute and Plateau State government for a conference on food security in North Central Nigeria.

Lalong promised that his administration would continue to work hard to sustain what has been achieved in the peace building sector, adding that peace was critically to his dream to revive the state economy especially the tourism sector. Governor Lalong acknowledged the fact that when there is no peace, everything will be in disarray.