President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday assured the people of Plateau State that the Federal Government will deploy an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled network of over 5,000 digital cameras to help law enforcement agencies combat insecurity in the State.
In his address during the visit to Jos, the State capital, President Tinubu commiserated with the government and people of the state on the March 29 gun attacks that claimed the lives of innocent citizens in the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos North Local Government Area.
He vowed: “I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.”
President Tinubu directed the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, to “unearth and find the killers” of innocent Nigerians.
The President announced that the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani, will oversee the immediate installation of the security cameras in close coordination with the Plateau State Government and security agencies.
The installation, he added, will start in Jos and expand across Plateau State, building on systems already successfully deployed in Lagos and Enugu States.
Lamenting the pain caused by the latest violence, President Tinubu expressed dismay at seeing videos from Jos depicting violence.
“It is only God that can give you joy and comfort,” President Tinubu told families affected by the attacks at the meeting held at the arrival lounge at Yakubu Gowon Airport.
“No amount of money can recompense for lost souls,” he added.
President Tinubu pledged that the government will do everything possible to ensure justice is served and provide comfort for the bereaved families.
He directed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro, to compile comprehensive data on those affected by the violence to ensure that government assistance is equitable to all.
Addressing leaders and stakeholders, President Tinubu emphasised the need for proactive measures to prevent future attacks.
”Why is the past not a source of lessons to us? I have listened to Jonah Jang, Wase, Lalong, Nentawe and Governor Mutfwang.
“Governor, you and I were elected on a promise of peace and security, not to comfort and create widows and widowers. We were elected to bring prosperity and inclusiveness as a government, to share hope and aspiration with everyone, and to lead our youth.
”I assure our youths who are represented here that I do not want to be here consoling and commiserating — I want to be here to establish peace,” he said.
The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, said the State had enjoyed relative peace before the unfortunate incident of March 29, describing it as a temporary setback.
He commended security agencies for their ongoing efforts and expressed confidence that their interventions will continue to strengthen security.
“We will win this war against insecurity,” the Governor said, adding that the current administration inherited these challenges and is taking all measures within its powers to address them.
Governor Mutfwang also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to complement the state’s security efforts.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, thanked President Tinubu for standing with the people of Plateau, noting that the crisis had lingered for a long time.
He expressed hope that the President’s visit would strengthen security agencies, stem the tide of attacks, and provide comfort to bereaved families.
“We will stay back and work with our people to find a lasting solution to the problem,” he said.
A former governor of the state, Jonah David Jang, echoed the request by Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, and the state governor for a special meeting in Abuja to find lasting solutions to the crisis in Plateau.
“I went through it, Joshua Dariye went through it, Simon Lalong went through it. The fact that the violence is now leaving the villages and getting into the townships is a dimension that we do not want to see,” he said.
He alleged that some people were attempting to sabotage the forthcoming general elections and President Tinubu’s achievements for the nation:
“You are doing a fantastic job for the nation, and some people think they want to spoil it like this,” he said.
Senator Simon Lalong, a former governor and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, recalled that, as a former governor, he had witnessed the state go through a state of emergency.
“We thought that it was over, but it is rearing its ugly head again. Plateau is privileged. If you bring together Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, Simon Lalong, and Mutfwang with traditional rulers, you will find solutions to Plateau State’s problems.
“I say that because all of us went through it. The solution to this problem lies with the people of Plateau. If we are ready, we will proffer a solution to you, Mr President. That is why we suggest a closed-door meeting in Abuja, where we can say the truth.
“It is not security agencies that will bring peace — Plateau people will bring peace,” he said.
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, observed that much work remains to be done to ensure lasting peace in Plateau, noting that many challenges stem from sabotage.
He called for increased collaboration between the Air Force and ground troops, particularly as the next farming season approaches in the state.
“In Wase and Kanke alone, last week we lost over 14 people, including a captain of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
