The Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council of Plateau State, Barr. Christopher Kyohroh John, has identified rampant drug abuse and cultism as the twin devil that fuels insecurity in the state.

Kyohroh made the assertion when the Plateau State Fact-Finding Committee set up by Governor Caleb Mutfwang to investigate the root causes of recurring violence across Plateau from 2001 to date, visited the council on Friday.

He noted that cases of inter-communal violence, land grabbing and cattle rustling are often traced to drug abuse and cultism.

While addressing the team led by Major General Nicholas Rogers (Retd), Kyohroh said, “Our security challenges in Jos North are mostly internal — drug abuse, cultism, occasional kidnapping, and proliferation of arms.

“These are not terrorist attacks or ethnic clashes but homegrown issues that require collective action.

“Unlike other LGAs where we’ve seen land disputes and mass killings, Jos North is dealing with internal threats like drugs and cultism.

“We have, however, taken measures to prevent escalation, but more is needed. The use of drugs emboldens these youths and fuels isolated killings. We need support at every level to tackle this.”

Also speaking during the visit, Rogers reaffirmed the committee’s mission of finding lasting solutions to the wave of crisis that has continued to rock the state.

“We are here to listen, to assess, and to provide recommendations to His Excellency that will help restore peace and development to this land.

“We want to understand why the crisis has lingered for so long and what solutions can be explored,” he assured.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has confirmed the successful rescue of a man trapped inside a vehicle following an accident involving a container-laden truck along the Ikorodu Road corridor at Idi-Iroko.

The incident which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, at approximately 1:30 am, involved a 40-foot Mack truck loaded with goods and a white Toyota Sienna minivan bearing registration number LSR 267 GZ.

According to LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, preliminary investigations suggest the truck suffered a brake failure while reportedly travelling at excessive speed, causing the container it carried to detach and collapse onto the minivan.

LASTMA’s midnight surveillance and emergency response team promptly arrived at the scene following distress calls.

The operatives successfully rescued the occupant from the crushed vehicle. The victim received immediate medical attention from the Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS.

The truck driver reportedly fled the scene shortly after the incident, allegedly to avoid possible mob action or legal consequences.

While recovery efforts continued, the damaged Sienna minivan was towed to the Anthony Police Station for documentation, and both the truck and its detached container were taken to LASTMA’s operational base for further investigation.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has said that President Bola Tinubu rescued Nigeria when the country was at a dangerous crossroad, facing multiple crises that threatened its unity and stability.

Ribadu stated this in Abuja at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18 Regular Course.

He described the situation as dire, with security threats cutting across all regions of the country.

According to him, the challenges spanned the country, from the insurgency-ravaged North East to the violence-plagued North West, the restive Niger Delta, and separatist agitations in the South East.

The former EFCC boss reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to overcoming what he termed inherited, intractable security challenges.

The NSA said bold strides have been made in restoring security and rebuilding national confidence across the country.

He disclosed that the government’s counterinsurgency efforts have so far led to the neutralisation of over 13,500 terrorists and criminals, while more than 124,000 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, along with their families, have surrendered.

Ribadu also recommended the active engagement of military veterans in the ongoing fight against insecurity, emphasising the value of their experience and knowledge in addressing complex threats.