Tinubu visits Jos after deadly attack

President Bola Tinubu visited Jos to console families affected by a Palm Sunday attack in Plateau State that killed at least 30 people, vowing stronger security measures and community engagement to halt recurring violence.

Tinubu met victims, community leaders and traditional rulers, expressing sympathy and stressing that while compensation cannot replace lives lost, the government would provide support and work to restore peace and stability. He said he did not want to be there merely to offer condolences but to establish lasting peace and prosperity for the region.

The president ordered a manhunt for the perpetrators and directed security chiefs to intensify operations to bring those responsible to justice. He also instructed the Minister of Communications to commence installation of a 5,000-camera surveillance network across Plateau State, starting in Jos, aimed at helping law enforcement identify and track criminal elements in real time and improve rapid response capabilities.

Tinubu tasked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs with conducting a comprehensive assessment of victims’ losses to enable prompt relief and support interventions. He further ordered the expansion of the state’s peace and security committee to include more stakeholders, urging inclusiveness in resolving communal tensions and calling on local leaders to reject divisive tendencies.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the March 29 attack as a setback to a period of relative calm and called for coordinated, sustained responses across administrations to tackle longstanding insecurity that has persisted since 1999. Traditional rulers, led by the Gbong Gwom Jos, Buba Gyang, asked for a broader stakeholders’ meeting with the president in Abuja to seek collective solutions.

Former governors and local party leaders backed a comprehensive approach combining dialogue and security reforms. They expressed optimism that sustained engagement, improved intelligence and community-inclusive initiatives can break the cycle of violence and restore the social and economic vibrancy that once characterized Jos.