Tinubu Meets Plateau Stakeholders Over Rising Insecurity
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday held a closed door meeting with a delegation of Plateau State stakeholders led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, amid growing concerns over renewed violence in the state.
The delegation arrived at the Villa around 1pm for the meeting, which commenced at about 2pm and lasted several hours. Details of the deliberations were not disclosed at the end of the session.
The meeting followed the President’s recent visit to Plateau State after the deadly Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos.
Gunmen had on March 29 opened fire at a busy junction in Jos, killing at least 28 persons, including university students and staff, while 22 others sustained injuries.
The attack sparked fear across the state and heightened tensions in communities around the University of Jos, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down the institution and evacuate students as security agencies moved in to restore calm.
President Tinubu had visited Jos on April 2, where he met with government officials, traditional rulers and families of victims affected by the violence.
During the visit, Governor Mutfwang told the President that stakeholders required more time to fully brief him on the security situation in the state, a request Tinubu immediately granted.
The President expressed condolences to families of the victims and assured residents of the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in Plateau State.
He also directed security agencies to intensify efforts towards arresting those responsible for the attacks and preventing further violence.
As part of broader plans to strengthen security nationwide, Tinubu announced the proposed deployment of about 5,000 surveillance cameras across the country to improve monitoring and support law enforcement operations. The Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, was assigned to oversee the implementation of the initiative.
Governor Mutfwang had earlier described the attack as a temporary setback, expressing confidence that Plateau State would regain its reputation for peace, tourism and stability. He also commended security agencies for their intervention efforts.
Despite official assurances, residents have continued to demand more sustained security measures following repeated attacks and killings in several communities.
The death toll from the Angwan Rukuba attack later rose to 33 after some victims died in hospital. The Plateau State Government confirmed the updated casualty figure and pledged to investigate the motive behind the killings.
Authorities also released three youths arrested in connection with the incident after protests disrupted funeral activities, with demonstrators accusing the military of unlawful arrests.
Fresh attacks were later reported in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Kanam local government areas, where several residents, including entire families and a pastor’s household, were killed.
Security agencies, however, reported some gains in ongoing operations, including the killing of 10 suspected terrorists and the recovery of weapons in coordinated raids.