JOS, NIGERIA – President Bola Tinubu has firmly assured the people of Plateau State that the deadly gun attacks recently witnessed in the state will become a thing of the past, pledging the immediate deployment of advanced security technology to stem the tide of violence.
Addressing bereaved families and stakeholders during his visit to Jos on Thursday, following the March 29 attacks in the Angwan Rukuba district, the President delivered a solemn vow: “I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.” To back this commitment, Tinubu announced that the Federal Government will deploy an artificial intelligence-enabled network of over 5,000 digital cameras across the state. The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani, will oversee the installation. Furthermore, the President issued a strict directive to security chiefs to “unearth and find the killers” of innocent citizens.
Expressing deep dismay at the pain caused by the violence, Tinubu offered his sympathies to the affected families. “It is only God that can give you joy and comfort,” he said, adding that “No amount of money can recompense for lost souls.” He also challenged the state’s political leaders and citizens to embrace proactive measures, asking, ”Why is the past not a source of lessons to us?” Reminding them of the government’s mandate, he declared, ”Governor, you and I were elected on a promise of peace and security, not to comfort and create widows and widowers… I assure our youths who are represented here that I do not want to be here consoling and commiserating — I want to be here to establish peace.”
State leaders echoed the need for lasting solutions. Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the recent violence as a “temporary setback” and thanked the President for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards. Former governors Jonah David Jang and Simon Lalong emphasized that true resolution requires local commitment, calling for a special closed-door meeting in Abuja.
Warning of the changing dynamics of the attacks, Jang noted, “The fact that the violence is now leaving the villages and getting into the townships is a dimension that we do not want to see.” Lalong reinforced the need for community-driven peace, stating, “It is not security agencies that will bring peace — Plateau people will bring peace.”
