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President Bola Tinubu has assured the people of Plateau State that the Federal Government will deploy an AI-enabled network of over 5,000 digital cameras to help law enforcement agencies combat insecurity in the state.
President Tinubu made the promise in his speech during his visit to Jos on Thursday.
He commiserated with the government and people of the State over the March 29 armed attacks that claimed the lives of innocent citizens in Angwan Rukuba District of Jos North Local Government Area.
“I promise you that this experience will not be repeated,” he said.
President Tinubu has ordered the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), the Chief of Army Staff, General Waidi Shaibu, and the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to “dig up and find the killers” of innocent Nigerians.
He announced that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani, will supervise the immediate installation of the security cameras in close coordination with the Plateau State government and security agencies.
The installation will begin 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 the violence.
“Only God can give you joy and comfort,” President Tinubu told families affected by the attacks during the meeting held in the arrival hall of Yakubu Gowon Airport.
“No amount of money can compensate lost souls,” he added.
President Tinubu promised that government will do all it can to ensure justice is done and provide comfort to the bereaved families.
He tasked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro, with compiling comprehensive data on those affected by the violence to ensure government assistance is fair to all.
Addressing leaders and stakeholders, President Tinubu stressed the need for proactive measures to prevent future attacks.
“Why is the past not a source of lessons for us? I 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 all, and to guide our youth.
“I assure our young people represented here that I do not want to be here to console and commiserate, I want to be here to establish peace,” he said.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang said the state had enjoyed relative peace before the unfortunate incident on March 29, describing it as a temporary setback.
He commended the security agencies for their continued efforts and expressed confidence that their interventions would continue to enhance security.
“We will win this war against insecurity,” the Governor said, adding that the current administration has inherited these challenges and is taking all measures within its power to address them.
Governor Mutfwang also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest rangers to complement the state’s security efforts.
The National President of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, thanked President Tinubu for standing by the people of Plateau, stressing that the crisis had persisted 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 grieving families.
“We will stay behind and work with our people to find a lasting solution to the problem,” he said.
A former governor of the state, Jonah David Jang, has echoed the call of 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’ve been through it, Joshua Dariye has been through it, Simon Lalong has been through it. The fact that the violence is now leaving the villages and reaching the townships is a dimension we don’t want to see,” he said.
He alleged that some people were attempting to sabotage the upcoming general elections and President Tinubu’s achievements for the nation:
“You’re doing a fantastic job for the country, and some people think they want to ruin it this way,” he said.
Senator Simon Lalong, former governor and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, recalled that, as a former governor, he had witnessed the state of emergency.
“We thought it was over, but it is raising its head again. Plateau is privileged. If you put Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, Simon Lalong and Mutfwang together with traditional rulers, you will find solutions to the problems of Plateau state.
“I say this because all of us have faced it. The solution to this problem lies with the people of Plateau. If we are ready, we will offer you a solution, Mr President. That is why we suggest a closed-door meeting in Abuja, where we can tell the truth.
“The security agencies will not bring peace: the people of the Plateau will bring peace,” he said.
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, noted that much work remains to be done to ensure lasting peace in the Plateau, stressing that many challenges arise from sabotage.
He called for greater collaboration between the Air Force and ground troops, particularly as the next agricultural season approaches in the state.
“In Wase and Kanke alone, we lost more than 14 people last week, including a Nigerian Army captain,” he said.
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