NIPSS DG meets Gbong Gwom, apologises over militia group comment

The Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, has formally apologized to the Berom people for remarks he made during a media interview concerning a recent security breach at the institute.

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Your Majesty, I stand before you today not only as the director general of NIPSS, but as a stakeholder deeply connected to this community and fully committed to the peace, unity and stability of Plateau.

Omotayo visited the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Gyang Buba, accompanied by his management team. He expressed his deep regret for comments that were interpreted as casting aspersions on the Berom tribe, stating it was never his intention to denigrate any community. "I wish to state clearly and without ambiguity that it was never my intention to attribute blame to the Berom people or to cast aspersions on any community," Omotayo said.

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I wish to state clearly and without ambiguity that it was never my intention to attribute blame to the Berom people or to cast aspersions on any community.

He acknowledged that his words caused concern and distress, offering his "sincere and unreserved apologies" and humbly seeking understanding from the Berom nation. Omotayo stressed his commitment to the peace, unity, and stability of Plateau State, describing himself as a stakeholder deeply connected to the community. He also appealed for calm and dialogue, assuring that NIPSS would continue to invest in youth empowerment and collaborate with security agencies to prevent future breaches.

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I recognise, however, that my comments have been interpreted in ways that caused concern and distress; for this I offer my sincere and unreserved apologies.

Responding on behalf of the Gbong Gwom, Mr. Dachollom Jambol, Chairman of the Berom Elders Forum, thanked Omotayo for his visit and apology. However, he called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the security breach at NIPSS. Jambol emphasized that any premature statements could be presumptuous and hinder the truth from emerging, urging the government to set up a panel immediately to uncover the facts of the incident.

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So as a nation, we are asking that a serious panel or whatever team the government deems fit should be set up immediately to investigate the issues.