The Plateau State Police Command says it has restored normalcy in Shendam local government area of Plateau State.
The command Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo said with the swift intervention of the security personnel to the scene of the protest by some youth at the Palace of the Long Goemai, the locality is calm now.
Youths from Yelwa-Nshar had stormed the Palace of the paramount ruler of the Goemai Nation on Friday morning to protest what they termed instillation of an Emir in Nshar by Long Goemai.
A source from Shendam explained that the youth stormed the palace and insisted to see the Long Goemai, to register their grievance but he couldn’t come out to address them because the palace was in Chaos which he sent message for them to converge at the conference hall of the Palace to be address by His Royal Highness, Miskoom Martin Shaldas III.
“When the youth were about calming down then came some armed soldier with Hilux and armour tank which triggered the youth to anger on why bringing army in a peaceful protest?.
“So the youth said they don’t want their presence there and the army went back before they reenforced with some mobile Police Officers to calm the situation ” the source said.
He said though people run for safety and businesses were truncated as shops were force to closed, but he confirmed that normalcy have been restored with the presence of the security at the Palace and some flash point areas at the headquarters of the Plateau State Governor’s local government.
Although the Police said investigation is on going to unravel what led to the protest, some of the protesting youths accused Governor Simon Lalong of forcing the Long Goemai to install a Muslim Traditional ruler known as Emir on the people of Yelwa-Nshar.
When contacted on phone for reaction, the Chairman of Shendam local government council, Alexander Miskoom Na’antuam, confirmed the protest but said he was able to address the youth and with the help of the security agencies, Shendam is calm now.
On the alleged imposition of an Emir, the Chairman described as untrue, saying it was a planned installation of a Village head in Yelwa which stool had been in existence since in the seventies but has been vacant due to some Chieftaincy tussle.
He also call for calm among the protest youths as he appreciated their understanding and the security agencies for calming the situation.