Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has ordered an immediate ban on illegal roadblocks and unauthorised taxation across all parts of the state, warning that anyone or any group found erecting checkpoints or engaging in violence under such cover will be arrested and prosecuted.
The directive, which applies to all 17 local government areas, targets non-state actors, including vigilante groups and community militias, who have in recent years mounted roadblocks amid persistent insecurity and communal tensions in the state.
The governor said the practice has contributed to killings, reprisals and extortion, stressing that no individual or group has the authority to control public roads or impose levies on citizens.
Security agencies have been directed to enforce the order and dismantle all illegal checkpoints. Officials said enforcement operations are expected to begin immediately, with leaders of groups linked to violent incidents at roadblocks facing possible arrest.
Plateau has witnessed recurring farmer-herder and inter-communal violence, during which some communities set up self-defence barriers along rural and highway routes. Authorities, however, say such roadblocks often worsen tensions, enable profiling and become flashpoints for attacks.
The government urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and report any illegal checkpoint or armed group activity, assuring that restoring lawful movement and public safety remains a top priority.
Abuja Network News
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