President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force to track down and apprehend those responsible for the deadly attack on Angwan Rukuba in Jos, Plateau State.
He also ordered the immediate deployment of 5,000 artificial intelligence-enabled cameras to strengthen security operations across the state.
The President gave the directive on Thursday during a meeting with stakeholders in Jos, where he also commiserated with bereaved families and victims of the attack that claimed 29 lives and left many others injured.
President Tinubu assured the people of Plateau that he would rather return to the state to celebrate peace and progress than offer condolences over yet another tragedy.
He reminded Governor Caleb Mutfwang that both of them were elected on the promise of peace, prosperity, and inclusive governance—not to preside over pain, grief, and the loss of innocent lives.
The Nigerian leader emphasised that leadership must inspire hope, create opportunities for the youth, and reflect the aspirations of all citizens.
“Governor You and I are elected on the promise of peace and prosperity not to create widow and widowers..to bring prosperity as a promise and inclusiveness as a government to share the hope and aspirations for everyone to lead our youths and if they are represented here let me give this assurance that I don’t want to be here commiserating and consoling I want to be here to establish peace,” he said.
The President stated that the ultimate goal is to restore Jos to the peaceful and welcoming city many Nigerians once knew.
He stressed that the state must return to being a place defined by harmony, coexistence, and shared prosperity rather than violence and fear.
“The best solution is for Jos to be just the one that people like us grow up to know,” he said
Addressing community leaders and victims of the Angwan Rukuba attack, President Tinubu said he had listened carefully to the concerns and appeals raised by stakeholders.
The President assured bereaved families and survivors that while no material support could compensate for their pain and loss, his administration was determined to ensure that such tragedy does not recur.
The President recalled the emotional scenes captured in videos from the aftermath of the attack, particularly the grief surrounding the deceased Ayuba, noting that only God can grant true comfort and healing to the mother and the family.
The President, however, assured the victims that the government would continue to do its best to support, comfort, and stand with them in this difficult time.
“To you leaders, I’ve heard the remarks.. to the victims there is nothing I can give you whether money or something but to console you that this experience will not repeat itself
“I saw on the video how you held on to Ayuba …it is only God who can give you joy and comfort…no amount of money can pay all of you back.
“Yes as the Government we will try our best to comfort you to work with you,” he said.
President Tinubu then challenged past and present leaders in the state to reflect on their experiences, questioning why the lessons of the past have not been fully harnessed to prevent a recurrence of violence.
He said : “I salute all of you leaders and I have heard the experiences of the past.
“Why is the past not a source of lessons for us? I’ve listened to Jang, Wase, Nentawe, the Governor..”
President Tinubu, wearing his trademark cap emblazoned with the symbol of broken shackles, said the emblem reflects a collective resolve to break the chains of violence, ignorance, poverty, and hopelessness, which he identified as some of the root causes of the security challenges confronting Plateau State.
He noted that the burden of restoring peace and rebuilding trust must be borne jointly by leaders and citizens alike.
“Leaders who have received us, who have accommodated us politically, I brought the symbol of this cap to break the shackle of violence, ignorance, poverty, hopelessness..we must break it together…
“….I thank them men and women of the armed forces particularly the police for what they are doing..you must find the killers,” the Nigerian leader said.
The President also commended the men and women of the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, for their efforts in confronting insecurity within the country, while directing security agencies to disarm and apprehend those responsible for the killings.
President Tinubu also directed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof Bernard Doro, to immediately compile data of victims of the attacks to guide government intervention.
He siad that although lost lives cannot be replaced, every effort must be made to provide relief and comfort to affected families.
“The Minister, thank you. Come see me. Take numeric analysis. You are a data person.
“For the victims. Let’s see what we can do. For their losses we cannot replace. They are human beings. But whatever we do to give them the minimum comfort. We will.
“We are going to install immediately. A network of cameras. That will help the law enforcement agencies to identify the troublemakers instantly. Over 5,000. We will do a network.” President Tinubu added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba, said the security challenges confronting Plateau State are not peculiar to the state alone but reflect a broader national concern.
He appealed for a separate audience with President Tinubu to formally present the underlying security issues affecting the state.
“Security challenges affecting Plateau State are not peculiar to the state but it is what are affecting the nation
“I want to appeal for an audience with the President in Abuja to make a formal presentation of security issues facing the Plateau state.” the Gbong Gwom Jos added.
Speaking on the President’s directive, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the Federal Government would deploy a network of artificial intelligence-enabled cameras across Plateau State, beginning with Jos.
He said this would strengthen surveillance and support security operations.
The Minister stated that his ministry would mobilise all available technological resources to drive the initiative.
Tijani, who studied at the University of Jos, also recalled that his family experienced setbacks during the 2001 crisis, underscoring his personal connection to the state and reinforcing his commitment to ensuring that such incidents do not recur.
Source – VON
(vitalnewsngr.com)
