Tinubu Orders Crackdown on Plateau Killers, Deploys 5,000 CCTV Cameras in Major Security Offensive

By Asile Abel, Jos

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed top security chiefs and the Minister of Defence to go after the killers of Plateau citizens and immediately strengthen security measures in the state to tackle recurring attacks.

The President made the directive on Thursday while speaking at a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Jos.

Tinubu also announced that the Federal Government would deploy 5,000 security cameras to Plateau to boost intelligence gathering, surveillance and rapid response to security threats.

The directive came as the President arrived in Jos to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the deadly gunmen attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, which claimed over 28 innocent lives on Palm Sunday.

Condemning the attack, Tinubu said he was elected not to create widows and widowers.

He added: “Governor Caleb Mutfwang and I were elected on the promise of peace and prosperity to come together and create a community that lifts up our people, not to hear that they are being killed always.”

Speaking earlier, Governor Mutfwang welcomed the President, noting that his visit came at a time when the state was enjoying relative peace and attracting local and foreign investments before the Sunday incident.

Mutfwang said the attack represented a temporary setback but expressed confidence that, with the support of the Federal Government and security forces, the state would overcome the challenge.

He commended the gallant efforts of security agencies, who prevent many attacks that often go unnoticed, and disclosed that he had convened a Security Council meeting where far-reaching decisions were taken.

The governor recalled that the security problem had persisted for nearly three decades across the tenures of previous governors Joshua Dariye, Senator Jonah Jang and Simon Lalong, but noted that President Tinubu’s leadership had provided a new platform for unity among Plateau leaders.

He assured the President of his resolve to rally leaders and people to confront the challenge and reclaim the state’s identity as a land of peace and tourism.

Former Governor Jonah Jang, who also spoke, requested a follow-up meeting with the President in Abuja for a heart-to-heart discussion on lasting solutions to the security problem.

Jang warned against attempts by some individuals to sabotage upcoming elections and expressed confidence that, with Tinubu’s support, ongoing sensitization efforts would succeed.

Our correspondent reports that there were goodwill messages from Senator Simon Lalong and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba.