Tinubu pledges to prevent repeat of Plateau bloodshed

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a manhunt for those responsible for the recent killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, and approved the installation of 5,000 CCTV cameras across the state to enhance security.

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The directive comes after fresh attacks in the state claimed two lives and injured two, with the President consoling the families of the victims and emphasizing that no amount of money can replace their loss.

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Speaking during a town hall meeting in Jos, Tinubu sympathized with the families of the victims, saying that only God can give them joy and comfort, and that the federal government would provide support to affected families while ensuring justice is served.

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The President also commended the swift response of the police and military, saying that they must unearth and apprehend the killers, and that the government will not allow such barbarity to go unpunished.

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To bolster security in Plateau, Tinubu announced that the Federal Government would deploy 5,000 Closed-Circuit Television cameras across the state to enhance intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid response to security threats.

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The President instructed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to compile data on all victims and their losses, saying that while human lives cannot be replaced, the government must see what support it can provide to all affected families.

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Tinubu expressed outrage over the recurring violence, saying that he was elected not to create widows and widowers, but to bring peace and prosperity to the people, and called on community leaders and residents to unite in ending the cycle of violence.

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He stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence, saying that the community must break the shackles of violence, ignorance, poverty, and hopelessness together.

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Earlier, Governor Caleb Mutfwang welcomed Tinubu’s visit, noting that Plateau had been enjoying relative peace and attracting local and foreign investments prior to the Palm Sunday attack, which he described as a temporary setback.

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Mutfwang expressed confidence that, with the support of the Federal Government and security forces, the state would overcome the challenge, and former Governor Jonah Jang requested a follow-up engagement with the president in Abuja to discuss lasting solutions to Plateau’s security challenges.

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Goodwill messages were delivered from the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatada, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, highlighting solidarity with the victims and support for ongoing security measures.

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Fresh attacks have continued to heighten anxiety among residents, with gunmen on Wednesday night attacking a community in Heipang, near Plateau State Polytechnic, killing one person and injuring others, with one of the injured victims later dying in hospital.

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Eyewitness accounts indicated that the attackers stormed the area at about 11 p.m., firing sporadically and causing panic among residents and students living off-campus, with a student describing the situation as chaotic.

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The incident reportedly disrupted activities in the area, with many residents staying indoors for fear of further attacks, and community leaders confirmed the attack and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

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In a related development, a 27-year-old man identified as Amos Monday was reportedly killed earlier in Riyom Local Government Area after gunmen ambushed a group of youths along a rural route linking communities.

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The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, led a high-powered delegation of senior military and security officials on an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Plateau State, and announced the deployment of over 850 additional troops to the state to reinforce existing formations under Operation Enduring Peace.

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The troops were drawn from formations in Abuja and Kaduna, and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, visited Plateau State to assess the security situation and express solidarity with the government and people over the recent attacks.

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Disu condemned the killings, describing them as tragic and unacceptable, and vowed that perpetrators would be tracked down and brought to justice, and disclosed that additional police personnel had been deployed to Plateau to strengthen ongoing operations and improve coordination with other security agencies.

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Key stakeholders have continued to react to the killings, with calls for more decisive and sustained action to address the security challenges, and the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria urging the Federal Government and security agencies to adopt concrete measures to halt the violence.

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The Evangelical Church Winning All condemned the attacks in Plateau and neighbouring Kaduna State, describing them as a grave assault on human life and dignity, and called for urgent reforms in the country’s security architecture.

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Tinubu’s visit to Jos, faulting the president for limiting his visit to the airport and not extending it to the grieving communities, and describing the visit as a “choreographed spectacle” that prioritized political optics over genuine empathy for the victims.

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Atiku argued that the president’s actions were insensitive and reduced genuine human tragedy to a spectacle, and drew parallels to a June 2025 visit to Benue State, saying that the president offered no concrete policy direction or decisive security intervention to prevent future horrors.