The Presidency has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met victims of the recent Plateau attacks at the airport in Jos, citing logistical constraints and prior international commitments.
In a statement issued on Friday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President had initially scheduled two key engagements for the day, including receiving Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno and travelling to Iperu in Ogun State.
According to the statement, President Tinubu adjusted his plans after receiving a security briefing from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, prompting him to suspend his Ogun trip and arrange an urgent visit to Jos.
However, the meeting with the Chadian leader, which focused on strengthening bilateral security cooperation, could not be postponed and extended longer than expected, delaying the President’s departure.
Upon arrival in Jos, the Presidency said further logistical challenges affected movement into the city. The absence of navigational aids at the airport runway, which prevents night operations, made it difficult for the President to travel the approximately 40-minute road distance to Jos metropolis and return before dusk.
“As a result, state and federal officials decided to bring representatives of the affected communities to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions,” the statement said.
The Presidency noted that key security officials, including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector General of Police, were already on ground and had visited Rukuba, identified as the epicentre of the violence.
It added that a high-level team had earlier been deployed to the area to carry out preliminary security and community engagement efforts ahead of the President’s arrival.
Beyond offering condolences, the statement said President Tinubu’s visit was aimed at engaging stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the recurring violence in Plateau State.
“He interacted with the victims, consoled them, and listened to them. He also listened to local leaders and assured them that the federal government would deliver justice and end the cycle of violence,” the statement said.
The President also announced plans to deploy 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras across Jos to improve security monitoring and aid in identifying perpetrators of violence.
In addition, he invited community leaders to Abuja for further dialogue on addressing the root causes of the conflict.
The Presidency described the meeting, which was televised live, as “solemn and reassuring,” adding that it helped boost public confidence.
It maintained that the visit achieved its objectives, emphasizing that sustainable peace in Plateau State must be built through inclusive engagement with affected communities.
