Sacking Of Senior District Head Divides Plateau Community

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has sacked Julius Dibilang from office as the Senior District Head of Mushere in Bokkos local government area.

The governor’s decision has divided the community as some people in the community are reportedly planning to protest the action.

LEADERSHIP gathered that Dibilang was installed as the paramount ruler of the Mushere ethnic nationality in September 25, 2025.

His installation marked the end of a seven-year leadership vacuum in Mushere Chiefdom, following the demise of the late paramount ruler, Pa Solomon Ngupang Lekshak, in 2018.

Barely six months after his appointment , the government announced his sack in a letter addressed to the traditional ruler through the chairman of Bokkos LGA, Hon. Amalau Samuel Amalau.

The letter which emanated from the Plateau State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs cited conviction by the court on criminal breach of trust as the reason for the sack of the district head.

The letter sighted by our Correspondent in Jos on Sunday was dated March 12th ,2026 and received by the palace of Saf Ron-Kulere on April 10,2026.

The letter titled, “Re: Appointment as the Senior District Head of Mushere ,Bokkos Local Government Area” reads in part :

“Above subject matter refers.

Government is in receipt of a judgement in suit NSD/KICMI /2014 .Re:Inspector General of Police V.Julius K Dibilang” which was delivered on the 29th March,2023 by Hon.Justice Danjuma .A Oyigbenu of the High Court of Justice ,Nasarawa State,in which you were convicted of criminal breach of trust by the court ,prior to your selection /appointment as the Senior District Head of Mushere (Attached is the CTC of the judgement).

“You are aware that any person convicted is not allowed to hold public office or an office of trust as enshrined in our laws.

‘Consequently,government hereby set aside your appointment as the Senior District Head of Mushere with immediate effect” .

LEADERSHIP learnt that the sack of the monarch has generated tension and drawn mixed reactions from various groups in the locality .

It was learnt that while some women have vowed to continue to protest to resist the removal ,another faction mainly youths have distanced themselves from the planned protest.

Meanwhile ,the Mushere stakeholders had convened an emergency meeting to deliberate on the deposition of the traditional ruler at Yelwa Club in Jos South LGA of the state .

In attendance was the former governor of the state Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye who called for calm and unity in the area.

Dariye who is also the Kawung Mushere said the meeting became necessary because of rising tension and speculation following the removal of the traditional ruler.

According to him, “This meeting is the entire selected chiefs in Mushere , title holders, stakeholders, youth organizations, women, and it is as a result of the fallout of the disposition of the senior district head of Mushre, and several wrong signals were being sent.

“And it’s creating division in the land, and some people say they don’t know why, so we felt, there is need to create enlightenment and shed light. It’s not a hidden thing taken by government. If there was a breach in communication, we needed to let our people know that government don’t just wake up and take an action in isolation. So this is why we’re here.”

Explaining the government’s action, the former governor confirmed that the decision to sack the traditional ruler was linked to a past conviction.

“The government has set aside the earlier selection, arising from earlier conviction that was a sentence that was issued against the senior district head by a court way back in 2023,” he said.

“I think at the time of selection, most of the selectors ,the king makers did not know. They were not aware of the facts. But the law is the law. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” he added.

Meanwhile, the deposed district head has not publicly reacted to the development.

Efforts to reach him by our correspondent were unsuccessful at press time.

The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command SP Alabo Alfred was not available to speak on the matter but security sources at the Command’s headquarters in Jos told our correspondent that “they are monitoring the situation and have urged all parties to maintain peace.”