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Two Killed, One Injured In Fresh Plateau Attacks
Two people have reportedly been killed and one other injured as gunmen, again, invaded Plateau communities, in a fresh attack, last Monday and the early hours of yesterday.
The gunmen struck in the Kura Falls community, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing one person, yesterday.
A villager, Mr Moses Gyang said in Jos, the state capital, yesterday, that the latest victim identified as Wurin Patrick was killed by the gunmen who attacked his house in the early hours of yesterday.
He added that a similar attack was carried out on Monday in a neighbouring community of Dorowa where one person was killed and another injured and hospitalised.
Gyang said, “Our area in Kura Falls was again attacked by gunmen in the early hours of today (Tuesday). One Wurin Patrick died during the attack.
“Besides, two other villagers were shot by the gunmen in neighbouring Dorowa community on Monday morning which led to the death of one of the victims while the other person is still in the hospital.
“It is unfortunate that we have continued to witness attacks in our communities and the killings of our people without anything done to stop the perpetrators.”
When contacted, spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ubah Gabriel Ogaba, said he was not aware of the latest incident but promised to investigate what happened.
However, the Plateau State Governor and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong, says that his administration would never allow the dark days of pain, tears and sorrow to return to the state.
The governor noted that his administration was well prepared to protect lives and property in the state, and would not handle issues of security with kids’ gloves.
Lalong disclosed this, yesterday, in Jos during a stakeholders’ peace and security community dialogue titled ‘Domestication of Community Policing in Plateau State: Exploring indigenous option’, which held at Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, the Plateau State capital.
“Like I said both during my visit to Kulben and during the meeting with local government chairmen, community leaders, traditional rulers and Ardos after the Kwatas killings, the dark days of pain, tears and sorrow will never be allowed to return to Plateau State again.
“That is why I told the security agencies that the killers must be fished out at all costs because government will no longer take excuses of ‘unknown gunmen’ who kill and maim at will.
“That is why we directed that the community leaders and Ardos be invited and questioned with a view to assisting the security agencies with information that will lead to the arrest of the killers. They are not ghosts,” he said.
Lalong appreciated security agents for acting on his directive of questioning the community leaders and Ardos, and expressed optimism that those behind the killings will soon be fished out to face the law.
“I am happy that this directive has been acted upon, and sooner than later, those killers will be unmasked and brought before the law to answer for their crimes. While that is going on, we must look ahead and seek ways to forestall reoccurrence.”
He noted that the meeting was convened with a view to putting forward practical and proactive measures that will address these unacceptable attacks.
“You will recall that the Inspector General of Police, last month, met with governors of the North-Central states in Lafia, Nasarawa State, for a security summit where we adopted community policing as a better tool for dealing with the security situation in our geo-political zone.
“Let us ask critical questions as to what we are doing right and what is not working, with a view to making it more effective for guaranteeing the security and safety of lives and property in Plateau State. We should also examine what the conventional security agencies such as the Police, State Security Service, Operation Safe Haven, Civil Defence, and related agencies are doing in securing lives and properties in the state.
“I expect that we shall engage in frank, open and solution-driven interaction that will enable us to key into the community policing model in dealing with our security situation more effectively.
“Happily, we already have structures on the ground which are in tandem with the community policing model such as the Operation Rainbow, Early Warning System, Vigilante Volunteers and Community-based Intelligence Volunteers,” the governor stated.
Spokesman to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Segun Sowunmi, has advised his principal, Atiku, to learn from President Bola Tinubu on how to form a coalition.
The Tide reports that in a bid to wrest power from President Tinubu in 2027, Atiku has been leading the movement by opposition politicians to form a coalition of political parties ahead of the next general election.
Last month, opposition politicians set up a team comprising former Minister of Transpiration, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, to decide whether to float a new party or fuse into an existing platform.
While the main opposition party, PDP, struggles with a perennial leadership crisis, the former Vice President is bent on establishing another political force to take power from the ruling party in 2027.
But Sowunmi, who has been Atiku’s ally for many years, disagrees with his move, saying instead of forming a coalition with another political platform, he should coalesce opposition politicians into the PDP.
Speaking during an interview on TVC on Tuesday, Sowunmi, who was Atiku’s campaign spokesperson in the last election, asked his principal to learn from President Tinubu on how to form a coalition.
Sowunmi believes Atiku, having benefitted from the PDP as a former Vice President and getting the party’s presidential ticket twice, should not seek to form a coalition that will not have the PDP as its base.
He said, “I’ve always said to people, people love with their hearts. I love atiku with my bones. But I can’t help him against himself. You can’t run vice presidency on PDP two times with Obasanjo, get presidential candidate on that same party two times. I don’t agree with him that the next best thing is to be shopping for…(a platform) If you want a coalition, why are you not coalescing them into your party?” he asked.
The former PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State advised the ex-VP to learn from Tinubu on how to build a coalition without dumping his political party.
“Look at your rival, your friend. You guys started together. At best, even if you want to say he’s building a coalition is he not coalescing opponents into his place”? Sowunmi asked again.
The PDP chieftain, who recently showered praises on Tinubu after he visited him, said the President has an “uncanny ability to make everybody individually feel special” regardless of political affiliations.
His words: “That guy (Tinubu) is something oh, he has this uncanny ability to make everybody individually feel special. It doesn’t matter whether you are a former foe or a president’s friend, every moment you share with him, I don’t know how he does it, though you’re going to leave the place feeling that you matter, feeling that he gets it, feeling that what you guys are talking about is important. And there’s something about him, when he gives you his word, he will say something like ‘ko le ye’, meaning that to the best of human ability, it will stand.”
Meanwhile, there have been conversations about Sowunmi’s political stance as many questioned his relationship with Atiku, with whom he shares a longstanding political relationship.
Asked about his relationship with Atiku following his meeting with Tinubu, Sowunmi said he doesn’t know if the former Vice President is upset.
“I don’t know whether Atiku is upset or not upset, but I know a lot of our followers are talking a lot of nonsense, and I’m wondering how I became attached to Atiku when I’ve been in PDP since 1999 never leaving,” he responded.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to fix inconsistencies in tax services across its over 300 offices nationwide.
The move aims to make tax processes clearer, more transparent, and easier for Nigerians.
In a statement, Special Adviser on Communications and Advocacy to the FIRS Executive Chairman, Mr. Collins Omokaro, said the updated SOP is a key part of the agency’s plan to improve taxpayer experience.
He explained that, in the past, different FIRS offices used different methods, which often confused taxpayers.
“This is about people, experience, and impact. It’s a step towards a tax system that supports voluntary compliance and national development,” Omokaro said.
The new SOP provides a single guide for key processes like registration, payment, audit, and enforcement. This will ensure all FIRS offices follow the same steps, making the system fairer and more predictable.
FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, described the SOP as more than just a set of rules.
“This SOP is not just a technical document; it is a declaration of who we are becoming as a service. It reflects our commitment to transparency and service to the Nigerian people,” he said.
The SOP also supports FIRS’s digital transformation, combining human and technological systems to deliver faster and more reliable services. It will also improve internal efficiency by providing clear guidance and better training for staff.
“With this rollout, every FIRS staff member has a clear mandate: study it, apply it, and embody it. That’s how we’ll earn the trust of Nigerians,” Omokaro added.
The reform is part of FIRS’s efforts to become a more service-driven organisation, focused on clarity, consistency, and national growth. The agency hopes the new SOP will make tax services better for Nigerians and increase public trust in the system.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, says the Federal Government is committed to building a world-class public service in Nigeria.
Walson-Jack made this known in Abuja, on Wednesday, at a World Press Conference ahead of the International Civil Service Conference and the African Public Service Week scheduled for June 25 to 26 in Abuja.
She said a recent study tour to Singapore was part of preparatory activities aimed at positioning Nigeria’s civil service for excellence and attracting global participation in the upcoming events.
“The study tour to Singapore was the first major activity we undertook under the collaboration between the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Heads of Service of the 36 states and the FCT,” she said.
According to her, the visit, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), involved 20 State Heads of Service and was designed to benchmark best global practices and enhance Nigeria’s public service delivery.
“The idea was born out of our ongoing collaboration, where we share ideas and knowledge across federal and state levels.
“Singapore was chosen because it is globally recognised for excellence in public service,” she explained.
Walson-Jack noted that the second phase of the tour will involve the remaining 17 heads of service later this year.
She said the tour provided participants with the opportunity to engage with both public and private sector institutions in Singapore, compare administrative practices, and gain insights into global standards.
“It was an eye-opener and a capacity-building opportunity.
“Since our return, several state civil services have begun implementing reforms in collaboration with the federal service, particularly in areas such as capability development and digital transformation,” she added.
Walson-Jack further disclosed that Nigeria would host a reciprocal study tour during the upcoming African Public Service Week, where foreign delegates will engage with various federal institutions.
“They will see firsthand our digitalisation efforts, performance management systems, and other reform initiatives aimed at transforming our civil service.
“We hope the experience will inspire similar actions in their home countries,” she said.