President Bola Tinubu on Thursday visited Jos, Plateau State, to engage with victims of recent violence and discuss measures to curb recurring conflicts in the region. The visit followed a high-level bilateral meeting with Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Initially scheduled to proceed to Iperu, Ogun State, Tinubu’s trip was suspended after a briefing from Governor Caleb Mutfwang and adjustments were made for the Jos visit. The meeting with the Chadian leader ran longer than planned, delaying the President’s departure.

Upon arrival in Jos, logistical constraints, including limited airport facilities that prevent night flights, made direct town visits unfeasible. To address this, representatives of the affected communities were brought to a hall adjacent to the airport, where the president met them alongside top federal officials, including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector General of Police.

A federal and state team, led by Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, had already visited Rukuba, the epicenter of the conflict, to prepare the ground for security interventions and community engagement before the President’s arrival.

During the visit, Tinubu expressed condolences to victims, listened to their concerns, and engaged local leaders to discuss strategies for ending the long-standing conflicts that have plagued Plateau State for decades.

The President assured residents that the federal government would take decisive action to prevent future violence. He announced plans to deploy 5,000 AI-enabled cameras to monitor the city and aid in the identification and apprehension of troublemakers.

Tinubu also invited community leaders to Abuja for further discussions aimed at developing lasting solutions to recurring violence in the state.

The live-televised meeting was solemn yet reassuring, reinforcing residents’ confidence in the government’s commitment to peace. Analysts noted that the visit highlighted the administration’s approach of involving local communities in building sustainable security solutions.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, confirmed that the visit achieved its objectives, emphasizing that lasting peace must be collaboratively built, not imposed from above.