The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has directed the sealing of all 17 local government council secretariats in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria.

In a statement signed by state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo, the action is to avoid possible threats to lives and properties in the local government councils as a result of leadership tussle following the suspension of elected chairmen and councilors by the state government.

In replacement of the suspended local government leadership, transition management committee chairmen were appointed and inaugurated for the council areas which did not go down well with the elected Chairmen and Councillors.

Having obtained a court injunction restraining the Plateau State Government from tampering with the democratic structures at the local government level pending the hearing of the substantive suit filed by the aggrieved chairmen, the government went ahead to inaugurate the transition management committee which has attracted tension among supporters of both sides.

As a means of maintaining law and order in the state, Police Commissioner, Bartholomew Onyeka has been directed to seal up all the local government council secretariats.

The statement added that the Nigeria Police Force in the state cannot tolerate breakdown of law and order with a warning that the command will not take it lightly with anyone who tries to disrupt the process or causes any confusion around the local government secretariats.

He said, “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Onyeka to seal up all the 17 Local Government Secretariats of the State.

“This has become necessary as a result of tensions around the leadership of the Local Government Areas, and the possible threat that supporters and Local Government Chairmen are posing to critical infrastructure, lives and properties in the State.

“The decision to take this action is in accordance with the exercise of our constitutional responsibility as the Nigeria Police Force, to ensure that the above doesn’t hold sway.

“To this end, the Nigeria Police Force cannot sit down and watch things go wrong under our watch, hence the need to make this critical decision of sealing up the Local Government secretariats.”

The Command warned that, “it will not take it lightly with anyone who tries to disrupt this process or cause any confusion around the Local Government Secretariats, as we will ensure that the law takes its full course on such persons.

Meantime, the CP commended citizens of the State for their continued understanding and urged them to go about their lawful businesses.