President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised that the tragic killings in Plateau state would not be allowed to happen again.
The president, who said the killers would be brought to justice, assured the victims and community leaders of improved security and government support.
He spoke Thursday in Jos, the state capital, during a condolence visit to the affected persons and community leaders following recent Sunday night attacks that claimed 28 lives in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North local government area of the state.
Turning to one of the affected persons, Mrs. Rhoda Ayuba, who lost her son, Promise Ayuba, the president said no amount of money could replace the lives lost, stressing that the government’s priority was to ensure justice and restore lasting peace while the manhunt for the killers continue.
“There is nothing I can give you, whether money in billions, but to console you and promise you that this experience will not repeat itself. No amount of money can pay for the loss of your loved ones. But as a government, we will try our best to comfort you and work with you,” he said.
President Tinubu, who recalled his long-standing relationship with Jos dating back to his early political days, said the recurring violence in the area must serve as a lesson for leaders and communities to work together for peace and development.
“I have listened to Jang, I have listened to Nentawe, I have listened to the governor. Governor, you and I were elected on the promise of peace and prosperity — not to comfort widows and widowers, not to bury people, but to develop and improve the standard of living of our people. We must break the shackles of violence, the shackles of ignorance, the shackles of poverty and hopelessness. We must break them together,” Tinubu further said.
The president directed security agencies to go after those responsible for the killings, noting that the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Minister of Defence were present and had been given clear instructions.
“You must unearth and find the killers,” Tinubu said, commending the armed forces and the police for their efforts so far in maintaining security.
He said his administration has concluded plans to install CCTV cameras to forestall future occurrence of criminality in the State.
“We are going to install a network of camera that will help the security agencies to identify the trouble makers, we have more than 5000, to install very soon,” he assured.
Plateau state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, said they appreciate the President’s stop over to commiserate with the people of the state over the recent tragedy.
“We do not underestimate the importance of this stop over, to us it is encouragement…keeping to your word that you will come today, for me is quite honourable,” Mutfwang said.
He revealed that the federal government would immediately begin installing a large-scale surveillance system across affected areas of Plateau state.
“We are going to install immediately a network of cameras — over 5,000 — that will help law enforcement agencies identify troublemakers instantly,” he said.
President Tinubu also directed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr, Benrnard M. Doro, to work with state authorities and community leaders to conduct a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of victims and losses, with a view to providing relief and support to affected families.
“For the victims, let us take proper numeric analysis. We cannot replace the human beings lost, but whatever we can do to give them minimum comfort, we will do,” he said.
“I don’t want to be here commiserating and consoling. I want to be here to establish peace,” he said.
President Tinubu, who had to cut his visit short due to logistical constraints, thanked Plateau leaders and residents for their support over the years and urged unity, inclusiveness and cooperation among communities as the only path to lasting peace and development.
….Mutfwang speaks
Welcoming the president, Governor Caleb Mutfwang said the attack came at a time when the state was enjoying relative peace and attracting local and foreign investments before the Sunday incident.
Describing the attack as a temporary setback, the governor expressed confidence that with the support of the federal government and security forces, the challenge would be a thing of the past.
“We will win this war against insecurity,” the governor said, adding that the current administration inherited these challenges and is taking all measures within its powers to address them.
Governor Mutfwang also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to complement the state’s security efforts.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, thanked President Tinubu for standing with the people of Plateau, noting that the crisis had lingered for a long time.
He expressed hope that the president’s visit would strengthen security agencies, stem the tide of attacks, and provide comfort to bereaved families.
“We will stay back and work with our people to find a lasting solution to the problem,” he said.
A former governor of the state, Jonah David Jang, echoed the request by Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, and the state governor for a special meeting in Abuja to find lasting solutions to the crisis in Plateau.
“I went through it, Joshua Dariye went through it, Simon Lalong went through it. 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,” he said.
He alleged that some people were attempting to sabotage the forthcoming general elections and President Tinubu’s achievements for the nation:
“You are doing a fantastic job for the nation, and some people think they want to spoil it like this,” he said.
Senator Simon Lalong, a former governor and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, recalled that, as a former governor, he had witnessed the state go through a state of emergency.
“We thought that it was over, but it is rearing its ugly head again. Plateau is privileged. If you bring together Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, Simon Lalong, and Mutfwang with traditional rulers, you will find solutions to Plateau State’s problems.
“I say that because all of us went through it. The solution to this problem lies with the people of Plateau. If we are ready, we will proffer a solution to you, Mr President. That is why we suggest a closed-door meeting in Abuja, where we can say the truth.
“It is not security agencies that will bring peace — Plateau people will bring peace,” he said.
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, observed that much work remains to be done to ensure lasting peace in Plateau, noting that many challenges stem from sabotage.
He called for increased collaboration between the Air Force and ground troops, particularly as the next farming season approaches in the state.
“In Wase and Kanke alone, last week we lost over 14 people, including a captain of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
…Army deploys additional 850 troops
In a related development, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, announced the immediate deployment of additional troops to reinforce ongoing operations in Plateau state codenamed Operation ENDURING PEACE.
Disclosing this in a statement Thursday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Polycarp, said the deployment followed the Sunday night attack in Anguwan Rukuba part of the state.
According to him, no fewer than 850 troops were deployed from formations in Abuja and Kaduna to protect lives and property and ensure the safety and security of residents across the state.
