The Plateau State Government has confirmed the arrest of individuals who allegedly issued threats of attacks in Jos following the end of Ramadan.
The state Commissioner for Information, Joyce Ramnap, disclosed this during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday.
Her comments came in the aftermath of a violent incident that left at least 20 people dead and several others injured during a Palm Sunday attack on March 29 in the Angwan Rukuba community of Jos North Local Government Area.
According to Ramnap, security agencies had acted on threats circulated on social media, leading to the arrest of some suspects believed to have announced that attacks would occur in the city after Ramadan.
To start with, no government will be aware that there will be an attack on a community and do nothing about it,” she said.
Those who announced there would be attacks in Jos after Ramadan have been arrested.”
She emphasised that addressing insecurity in the state requires cooperation among government agencies, security forces and the public.
The state government alone will not be able to achieve the necessary results required. Everyone has a responsibility for these people to be brought to book,” she added.
Ramnap also revealed that a senior police official recently visited the state to assess the situation and support ongoing investigations.
She said the Deputy Inspector-General of Police visited Plateau, where Governor Caleb Mutfwang reiterated the need for a thorough investigation and successful prosecution of those responsible for the threats and recent violence.
According to her, the legal process of addressing such cases involves several institutions, including the police, the judiciary and other relevant authorities.
When arrests are made, it may not go through the military or the army. The arrest will go through the police.
The investigation will go through a channel, and the prosecution will go through another which is the judiciary, she explained.
She stressed that coordinated action across the security and justice systems is essential to achieving a lasting solution to security challenges in the state.
Authorities have intensified efforts to restore calm in Jos and surrounding communities following the recent violence, which has heightened tensions in parts of Plateau State.
Security agencies are continuing investigations while the state government has urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement agencies as efforts continue to prevent further attacks.
