President Bola Tinubu has explained why victims of the recent attacks in Plateau State were received at the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Jos rather than in the affected communities, citing aviation and logistical constraints that limited his movement during the visit.
The explanation was provided in a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the presidency, Tinubu had initially planned to proceed to Iperu in Ogun State on Thursday after hosting the President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. However, the plan was suspended after the President received a security briefing from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang regarding the attacks in the state.
Onanuga said Tinubu immediately ordered an emergency visit to Jos following the briefing, with arrangements made overnight to deploy presidential assets for the trip.
The visit, however, experienced delays because of a bilateral meeting with the Chadian leader focused on strengthening security cooperation between Nigeria and Chad.
“The President of Chad was at the Presidential Villa for a very important bilateral meeting focused on strengthening security collaboration between the two countries. The meeting ran longer than expected, affecting President Tinubu’s scheduled departure for Jos,” the statement said.
The presidency further explained that upon arrival in Jos, logistical challenges prevented the President from travelling into the city to meet victims directly at the affected communities.
Although the road journey from the airport to Jos town takes about 40 minutes, officials noted that the airport runway does not support night operations due to the absence of navigational aids.
Because of the limited time before dusk, it would have been impractical for the President to travel into the city and return to the airport safely.
“The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk,” the statement said.
As a result, representatives of the affected communities were invited to a hall adjoining the airport where the President met with them.
Among those present at the meeting were the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police, who had earlier visited Rukuba, identified as the epicentre of the attacks.
Onanuga said Tinubu’s visit to Jos was aimed at engaging critical stakeholders and addressing the underlying causes of the recurring violence in Plateau State.
He added that the President had also deployed a high-level delegation, including his Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, to carry out preliminary engagements in the affected areas ahead of his arrival.
Beyond conveying condolences to the victims, Tinubu held discussions with community leaders and other stakeholders on ways to end the longstanding conflict that has repeatedly resulted in loss of lives and property in the state.
During the meeting, the President assured residents that the federal government would ensure justice for victims and intensify efforts to halt the cycle of violence.
Tinubu also announced plans to deploy 5,000 artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance cameras across Jos to strengthen security monitoring and support law enforcement agencies in identifying and apprehending perpetrators.
The President further invited community leaders from Plateau State to Abuja for additional consultations aimed at finding lasting solutions to the persistent crisis.
According to the presidency, the meeting, which was televised live, provided victims and local leaders the opportunity to speak directly with the President.
“The meeting was solemn and reassuring, boosting residents’ confidence,” the statement said.
Onanuga added that despite criticisms from some quarters, the visit achieved its objective of engaging directly with affected communities and reinforcing the government’s commitment to restoring peace.
“He dropped an unmistakable message: sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them,” the statement said.
Leave a Reply