Plateau 17 councils plan own security outfits, use Wase as model

Chairmen of all 17 local government areas for Plateau State don agree to set up security outfits for their own councils, modelled on a scheme wey already dey run for Wase, the state's Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Usman Ephraim Gar, don talk.

Gar tell press conference for Jos on Thursday, with the 17 chairmen stand beside am, say the outfits go work alongside police and other security agencies instead of to take their place. The aim, e talk, na to help curb the killings and other security problems wey don hit communities across the state.

For Plateau residents, the plan matter because attacks don repeatedly force families from their homes and farms. A local outfit wey dey gather information and report quickly fit give police and other agencies earlier warning of trouble.

How the Wase model work

Wase Local Government Area na the example wey other councils go copy. Its outfit, Wase Rock Security Network Limited, get 140 officers wey go through three months training wey Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) run. The council chairman, Hamisu Mohammed Anani, hold passing-out parade for dem and hand over 25 patrol motorcycles and two Toyota Hilux vehicles to help dem move faster when incidents happen.

NSCDC's Plateau State command formally inaugurate the outfit after the training, according to Gar. He talk say to register the outfits properly go make am easier for dem to share information and work with the conventional agencies.

Plateau already get Operation Rainbow and the Neighbourhood Watch, wey dem set up under a 2012 state law, with the watch serving as civilian intelligence-gathering structure. The new council outfits go add another layer to those arrangements.

The plan come after a difficult stretch. At least 13 people reportedly die for separate attacks for Jos South, Mangu and Riyom on September 13, 2026, while attack on communities for Mangu in August leave at least 25 people dead.

Commissioner deny meddling in council funds

Gar also use the briefing to reject talk say the state government dey interfere in how councils spend their federal allocations. He talk say Governor Caleb Mutfwang never tell chairmen what to do with their money.

"The governor has never dictated how the councils should utilise their allocations," he talk, adding say projects like radio and television stations and large event halls show the councils fit handle their own resources.

The commissioner speak after a ministry team tour projects for all three senatorial zones. He list a remodelled youth centre, a mini stadium, computer-based test centres, health facilities, boreholes and solar streetlights for the south, and a 23-kilometre road for Kanke, a 1,500-capacity hall for Mangu and an anatomy laboratory for Plateau State University, Bokkos, for the central zone.

He call for bigger share of federal revenue for local governments so they fit do more for their communities.

What happens next

The other 16 councils still get to train and register their own outfits, and no timetable don give. Gar talk say na only matter of time before they follow Wase's lead.