The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to meet victims of the recent Plateau State killings at a hall adjoining Yakubu Gowon Airport, rather than travelling into Jos township, citing aviation and logistical constraints.
In a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the airport runway does not support night operations because of the absence of navigational aids. It said this made it impossible for Tinubu to drive to Rukuba, meet victims on-site, and return to the airport in time for departure before dusk.
“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered some logistical challenges. While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids,” the statement said.
“The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk. Consequently, state and federal officials decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet with them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions.”
Tinubu’s visit came days after gunmen attacked the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos North Local Government Area on Palm Sunday, killing at least 28 people in one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence in Plateau State in recent years.
The Presidency also addressed the delay in Tinubu’s departure for Jos, explaining that his Thursday schedule included receiving Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa for a bilateral meeting focused on security cooperation between Nigeria and Chad.
According to the statement, Tinubu had initially planned to travel to Iperu, Ogun State, but suspended the trip after being briefed by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang on the deteriorating security situation.
“President Tinubu’s itinerary for Thursday included two main engagements: receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and proceeding to Iperu, Ogun State. After Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s briefing, President Tinubu suspended the trip to Ogun,” the statement said.
“Overnight, the Presidential Villa made arrangements for the visit to Jos, with presidential assets quickly deployed. However, the President could not postpone the scheduled visit by the Chadian leader. The meeting ran longer than expected, affecting President Tinubu’s scheduled departure for Jos.”
Despite the airport setting, the Presidency maintained that the visit fulfilled its purpose, saying Tinubu met victims, listened to community leaders, and engaged key stakeholders on ending the cycle of violence in Plateau.
Among those present were the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector-General of Police, who had earlier visited Rukuba ahead of the President’s arrival.
“President Tinubu’s visit to Jos was not merely symbolic. It was a strategic, high-level engagement aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity in the state,” Onanuga said.
During the meeting, Tinubu addressed a grieving mother, Mrs Rhoda, whose viral video showed her clutching the bloodied body of her son, identified as Ayuba, an image that has since come to symbolise the horror of the attack.
“I know the pain. I see in the video how you buried your loved ones and the pain and agony in your heart. But it’s only God who can give you joy and hope. No amount of money can pay all of you back,” the President told her.
Tinubu also announced the planned deployment of more than 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras across Plateau State, directed security agencies to track down those responsible for the killings, constituted a committee to assess losses and recommend compensation, and invited community leaders to Abuja for further dialogue.
Separately, the Nigerian Army announced the deployment of over 850 additional troops to reinforce operations under Operation Enduring Peace.
The Presidency insisted that the visit was deliberate and strategic, with Onanuga saying Tinubu “achieved the purpose of his visit, despite the naysayers’ attempts to ridicule it,” adding that the President delivered a clear message that “sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them.”
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the visit, describing it as insensitive.
In a statement issued by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was “both shocking and deeply insensitive” that several days after the killings, the President’s “so-called on-the-spot assessment” was limited to the airport and did not extend into the affected communities.
He further alleged that the visit was hurriedly shortened to allow Tinubu proceed to Lagos for the Easter holidays, describing it as “a decision that reflects a deeply troubling prioritisation in the face of national grief.”
ADEOLA KUNLE
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