Plateau Activist Nansel Lar Rearrested Weeks After Spending 46 Days In Prison Over Demands For Accountability

Plateau State accountability advocate Comrade Nansel Selnan Lar has been rearrested by police, weeks after his release from 46 days in prison over petitions linked to his demands for transparency in the management of local government funds.

Sahara Reporters gathered on Tuesday that Lar was arrested on Monday by operatives of the Plateau State Police Command in connection with what a community source described as “an offence unknown to us but much likely connected to resilient call for accountability in Tarok land.”

According to the source, a video circulating online shows Hon. Nanla Saul, a councillor representing Kuffen B Ward in Langtang North Local Government Area, blocking Lar at his residence before security operatives “whisked away” the activist.

“He asked a simple, lawful question that every citizen has the right to ask: where is our money?” the source told Sahara Reporters. “Can our leaders account for every kobo received from federal and state allocations to our local government?”

Lar was previously arrested and detained following petitions relating to his demands for accountability in Langtang North and Langtang South local government areas, where he raised concerns about alleged abandoned projects and the management of public funds.

His ordeal began on June 23, 2026, when he honoured a police invitation from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) over petitions reportedly filed against him. He was detained that day, and detectives searched his residence before granting him administrative bail on June 24.

He was rearrested on June 25 over another petition relating to Langtang South and detained again at the SCID. He secured administrative bail on June 27 after spending two more days in custody.

On June 30, detectives took him into custody again for what sources described as pre-arraignment procedures. He was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Jos on July 1 and remanded at the Jos Custodial Centre, where he spent 46 days.

Court documents obtained by Sahara Reporters show that Lar, 33, was charged by the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, alongside four other persons who are currently at large.

The charge, dated July 6, 2026, alleges that offences were committed between April 26 and 27, 2026, in Zaramaganda, Jos South Local Government Area. The prosecution accused the defendants of orchestrating an online campaign alleging that Langtang South Local Government Chairman, Hon. Nanfa Nbin Alhassan, embezzled public funds.

The five-count charge includes conspiracy, cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting disturbance and criminal intimidation. Police alleged that the defendants used Facebook and WhatsApp to circulate messages described as “grossly offensive and menacing.”

The charges were brought under provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Penal Code Act.

Sources told SaharaReporters that Lar’s latest arrest may be connected to an open letter he addressed to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, demanding accountability in the management of public funds in Langtang North and Langtang South.

The letter, dated June 22, 2026, was titled “Emergency Intervention Is Needed for N614.9 Budget Performance of Langtang North and Total Opacity in Langtang South.”

In it, Lar urged the governor to declare the two local government areas of special concern, alleging poor execution of capital projects, inadequate budget implementation and a lack of transparency in the management of public funds.

According to fiscal records and budget documents obtained from the Plateau State Bureau of Public Procurement, N3,692,650,000 was allocated to a 2026 local infrastructure project in Langtang South for the construction of drainages and culverts across designated roads.

The project was intended to address wet-season soil erosion and environmental degradation.

Official executive progress sheets reportedly list the project as “In Progress” and indicate that implementation involves “Direct Local Sourcing & Engineering Artisans.”

However, Lar and local transparency observers said a field inspection of the designated locations found no evidence of construction.

They reported that no drainage channels had been dug, no cement work had begun and no local artisans had been mobilised, alleging that the project existed on paper but had not been executed on the ground.

In neighbouring Langtang North, Lar’s accountability team also questioned the status of a federal intervention project involving the construction of a 16-kilometre asphalt link road, with drains, from Pil Gani to Gasham.

Federal intervention records reportedly list the project at N180 million and identify the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) as the implementing agency under a “Community-Led Direct-Labor Model.” The project was facilitated under the legislative representation of former lawmaker Hon. Beni Lar.

While transparency profiles and executive progress reports reportedly classify the road as “Executed,” Lar’s team said its field inspection and drone surveys found no evidence of asphalt paving or drainage construction along the route.

The team described the road as an unpaved dirt track that becomes difficult to traverse during heavy rains. Residents of the host communities also reportedly said they had not seen NBRRI equipment or personnel at the site.

The findings raised questions about the reported execution of the N180 million project, although the claims have not been independently verified by Sahara Reporters.

Seeking further information, Lar submitted requests under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, to the executive chairmen of Langtang North and Langtang South, Hon. Pirfa Tyem and Hon. Nbin Nanfa, respectively.

He requested bank disbursement records, procurement codes, ledger entries and the identities of companies awarded contracts for the projects.

Sources alleged that rather than provide the requested information within the statutory seven-day period, political figures petitioned the police, leading to Lar’s arrest and prosecution on cyberstalking and criminal defamation charges.

Following his release after 46 days in custody, Lar criticised the treatment of accountability advocates.

“If we are thrown into prison cells merely for requesting budget implementations under the law of the land, then the Freedom of Information Act is dead on Plateau soil,” he declared in a transcript issued through his legal team.

“We are dealing with a syndicate that nominates massive projects on paper to satisfy oversight trackers, while leaving our rural communities to suffer in absolute neglect. No amount of detention will bury the fact that these sites are completely empty.”

In a statement issued following his rearrest, Lar’s supporters appealed to young people in Tarok communities to remain peaceful.

“I hear your anger. I feel it. But I beg you in the name of God and in the interest of the Tarok Nation to please remain calm,” the statement read.

“Do not attack anyone. Do not block roads. Do not insult our traditional rulers or security agents. If we become violent, they will say our demand for accountability was actually a plan for chaos. Don't give them that excuse.”

The statement added: “What they're waiting for is to create unrest in local governments and loot more as security votes. It's an orchestrated plan to destroy our nation. Stay home, stay peaceful, get ready and pray. Our strength is in our peace.”

The supporters called on the security agencies involved to “respect the Constitution” and “release Nansel immediately, or charge him to a competent court within 24 hours as the law requires.”

They also cited Section 14(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the participation of the people in government, and Section 15(5), which directs the state to abolish corrupt practices.

“The Freedom of Information Act 2011 gives every Nigerian the right to request public information,” the statement added.