President Bola Tinubu has appealed to residents of Plateau State to forgive him for not visiting communities affected by recurring attacks, particularly Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area, following the March 29 killings. Tinubu made the appeal on Saturday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Jos. He acknowledged the devastation caused by years of violence in the state and explained that his previous visit to Plateau was restricted to the airport.
Tinubu acknowledged that attacks in Plateau since 2001 had claimed lives, destroyed homes, and displaced communities. He assured affected residents that his administration would support efforts to rebuild their communities and facilitate the return of displaced persons. The president also urged residents to embrace peaceful coexistence, saying differences in language and other identities should not divide them.
During his previous visit to Jos in April, Tinubu ordered the deployment of 5,000 artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance cameras to strengthen security in Plateau State. He sympathised with the victims’ families, saying no amount of compensation could make up for their losses. However, his failure to visit the affected communities during that trip attracted criticism from Nigerians.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, explained that Tinubu had engagements scheduled before the attack, including meetings with the Chadian President in Abuja and a trip to Iperu, Ogun State. The explanation followed public criticism of the president’s decision not to visit the violence-hit communities.
Tinubu expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones, survivors of the attacks, and residents whose homes were destroyed or who remained unable to return to their communities. He assured those displaced that his administration would rebuild their communities and facilitate their return.
The president emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence, stating that living in different rooms and speaking different languages does not make people enemies of one another. He urged residents to live together, farm together, and build Plateau and the country together.
On March 29, several residents of Angwan Rukuba were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on people at a popular bar in the community. The incident led to criticism of Tinubu's decision to restrict his visit to the airport, prompting his recent appeal for forgiveness from Plateau residents.
Key points
- President Tinubu appeals for forgiveness from Plateau residents for not visiting affected communities during his previous visit.
- The president assures affected residents of support to rebuild their communities and facilitate the return of displaced persons.
- Tinubu emphasizes the importance of peaceful coexistence among residents of Plateau State.
