Tinubu Orders Deployment of 5,000 AI-enabled Digital Camera Network to Combat Insecurity in Plateau

• Directs CDS, COAS and IGP to find last Sunday’s killers of innocent Nigerians 

•Pledges govt assistance to bereaved families

• Meets stakeholders, orders tougher measures 

•Atiku: It’s troubling Tinubu only stayed at the foot of his plane

•Catholic Church decries fresh killings in Plateau 

•UNIJOS orders immediate evacuation of students amid rising insecurity in Jos

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi, George Okoh in Makurdi and Yemi Kosoko in Jos

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assured the people of Plateau State that the federal government will deploy an artificial intelligence-enabled network of over 5,000 digital cameras to help law enforcement agencies combat insecurity in the state.

Tinubu made the promise in an address during his visit to Jos, the Plateau State capital, in the aftermath of the March 29 gun attacks that claimed the lives of innocent citizens in the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos North Local Government Area.

He commiserated with the government and people of the state, saying, “I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.”

Tinubu directed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Waidi Shaibu, and Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, to “unearth and find the killers” of innocent Nigerians.

He announced that 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.

“We are going to install a network of CCTV cameras that would help law enforcement agencies identify troublemakers instantly,” the president said.

The installation 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, the president expressed dismay at seeing videos from Jos depicting violence.

“It is only God that can give you joy and comfort,” Tinubu told families affected by the attacks at the meeting held at the arrival lounge of Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos.

“No amount of money can recompense for lost souls,” he added.

The president pledged that the government will do everything possible to ensure justice and provide comfort for the bereaved families.

He directed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro, to compile comprehensive data on those affected by the violence to ensure equitable government assistance.

Addressing leaders and stakeholders, Tinubu emphasised the need for proactive measures to prevent future attacks.

He stated, ‘’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.”

Earlier, 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.

Mutfwang also expressed gratitude to Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to complement the state’s security efforts.

National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, thanked Tinubu for standing with the people of Plateau, stating that the crisis has lingered for a long time.

Yilwatda 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.

Former governor of the state, Jonah 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.

Jang said, “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 alleged that some people were attempting to sabotage the forthcoming general election and Tinubu’s achievements for the country.

“You are doing a fantastic job for the nation, and some people think they want to spoil it like this,” Jang told Tinubu.

Senator Simon Lalong, a former governor and ex-Speaker of the House of Assembly, recalled that, as a former governor, he had witnessed the state go through a state of emergency.

Lalong stated, “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.”

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, observed that much work remained to be done to ensure lasting peace in Plateau.

Wase said many challenges stemmed from sabotage.

He called for increased collaboration between the air force and ground troops, particularly as the next farming season approached in the state.

“In Wase and Kanke alone, last week we lost over 14 people, including a Captain of the Nigerian Army,” he said.

Tinubu Backs Benue to Improve Security

Benue State Government would get support from the federal government in its effort to tackle insecurity in the state. This was disclosed by Governor Hyacinth Alia, yesterday.

Alia said Tinubu had told him he wanted absolute peace and not relative peace in Benue.

He spoke during a strategic engagement with the people of Benue, at an occasion, which served as the inauguration of local government and zonal coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in the state, at IBB Square, Makurdi.

The governor stated, “My government is working hard to curtail the insecurity challenges facing the state. Now people are returning home to cultivate their farms. I appreciate the security agencies for the work they do for us, and I urge Benue people to continue to support them to ensure our safety.”

He called on the people of the state to vote massively for Tinubu in the 2027 general electiion.

Charging the newly inaugurated APC, Renewed Hope Ambassadors for the state, to mobilise support for the party ahead of the 2027 election, Alia told them, “Be good ambassadors in your local governments. Take your duties seriously. I am confident you will succeed.

“You have to create full awareness about the APC at the grassroots. Project and tell the people in your localities what the party is doing to better their lot.

“I urge you and all APC members to work assiduously for the re-election of President Tinubu and me in 2027, so that there will be more development in the state.”

Atiku: Tinubu Stayed on the Plane in Jos

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed deep concern over the handling of Tinubu’s recent visit to Plateau State, describing it as yet another troubling indication of a pattern of detachment from the suffering of Nigerians.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Tinubu only stayed at the foot of the aircraft that brought him to Jos.

He stated, ‘’The events in Plateau State have once again exposed a disturbing and unacceptable approach to national tragedy. It is both shocking and deeply insensitive that several days after the gruesome killings of innocent citizens, the president’s so-called ‘on-the-spot assessment’ was reduced to a brief stop at the foot of his aircraft, never extending beyond the airport, never reaching the grieving communities, and never touching the pain of the victims.

‘’Even more troubling is the impression that this fleeting visit was hurriedly curtailed to allow the President proceed to Lagos for the Easter holidays, a decision that reflects a deeply troubling prioritisation in the face of national grief.”

Atiku said, ‘’While families continue to mourn those slaughtered on Palm Sunday, the President chose to convert what ought to have been a solemn visit into a political spectacle, meeting party loyalists in Jos under the thin guise of official engagement. This is not leadership; it is indifference dressed as protocol.

‘’This approach mirrors his earlier conduct in Benue State in June 2025, when a condolence visit over a deadly attack conspicuously avoided the epicentre in Yelwata, only to devolve into a political rally. The repetition of this pattern is no longer accidental, it is now a consistent and troubling habit.”

The former vice president said, ‘’In Plateau, the president neither visited the bereaved families nor the injured receiving treatment in hospitals. He offered no concrete policy direction, no decisive security intervention, and no reassurance that such horrors would not recur.

“Instead, he staged a meet-and-greet within the confines of the airport, surrounded by politicians, traditional rulers, and party operatives—far removed from the anguish of the people.”

Atiku said, ‘’Even more disturbing is the government’s decision to transport grieving citizens from distant parts of Jos Municipal to the airport in  Heipang near Barkin Ladi, merely to stage an appearance before the President.

“At a time when families are in deep mourning, such actions reduce genuine human tragedy to a choreographed spectacle—prioritising optics over empathy and dignity. This is not only inappropriate; it is shameful.

‘’This conduct raises serious questions about the President’s sincerity and capacity to confront the escalating insecurity ravaging the nation. A leader who cannot stand with his people in their darkest hour cannot convincingly claim to be fighting for their safety.’’

IPCR Decries Jos Killings, Urges Restraint

Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) expressed shock and sorrow over the recent killings in Jos.

In a statement by Director-General of IPCR, Joseph Ochogwu, the institute extended heartfelt condolences to families of the victims, survivors, and the entire Anguwan Rukuba community, as well as the Plateau State government.

It prayed for strength and comfort for those affected during what it described as a profoundly difficult period.

The institute condemned the attack, describing it as a heinous act, and urged residents across the state to refrain from reprisals or retaliatory violence, regardless of ethnic, religious, or political differences.

It emphasised that violence only deepened suffering and undermined efforts towards lasting peace.

IPCR also called on the youth in Plateau State to remain calm, vigilant, and disciplined, warning against actions capable of escalating tensions. It encouraged citizens to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities and supporting efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killings.

Catholic Church Condemns Fresh Killings in Plateau, Demands Inquiry

The Catholic Church in Nigeria expressed concern over the killing of church faithful in villages of Angwan Rukuba, Gari Ya Waye, and Atakyu in Plateau State last Sunday, when they were observing Palm Sunday.

In a statement by CSN   Secretary-General, Rev. Fr. Michael A. Banjo, and National Directorate of Communications, Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, the church demanded thorough inquiry into any negligence, failure, or complicity on the part of the security agencies.

While lamenting the seemingly unabating violence in parts of the country, the Catholic Church urged government at all levels to consider it as a constitutional duty to protect citizen’s life and property.

The church said the carnage in Jos came too soon after the Maiduguri incident.

It stated, “The heart-breaking image of a mother cradling her wounded son in the aftermath of this atrocity captures the anguish of families and loved ones torn apart by sudden loss, injury, and trauma, and the profound sorrow now

weighing upon the affected communities.

“With profound sorrow the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria condemns the cold-blooded massacre of 27 persons on the evening of March 29, 2026.

“A thorough inquiry into any negligence, failure, or complicity on the part of public

restore public confidence and secure justice. In particular.”

Olawepo-Hashim: FG Has Abdicated Its Most Sacred Duty of National Security

A presidential hopeful in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, accused the federal government of failing in its constitutional responsibility to protect life and property amid renewed violence across Borno, Plateau, Kaduna and Kwara states.

In a statement reacting to recent attacks in the states, Olawepo-Hashim described the deteriorating security situation as “a national tragedy unfolding in plain sight”.

He cited the reported terrorist assault in Maiduguri, the alleged killing of over 200 residents in Woro community in Kwara State, the killing of wedding guests in Kaduna State, and the death of more than 30 people in Jos, stating that the scale and frequency of the incidents suggests systemic failure within the nation’s security architecture.

“This is no longer a case of isolated security breaches. What we are witnessing is a collapse of responsibility at the highest level,” he said.

Olawepo-Hashim criticised what he described as a pattern of official responses characterised by condolence messages and assurances without corresponding decisive action, stressing that such reactions have neither deterred perpetrators nor reassured vulnerable communities.

He expressed concern over the absence of a clear, coordinated national strategy to confront armed groups, safeguard communities, and ensure justice for victims.

According to him, there is also a growing disconnect between government leadership and the realities faced by citizens, as violence persists across several regions.

Olawepo-Hashim stated, “Beyond condolence visits by politicians, the security high command has not presented inspiring plans to halt the killings, protect communities, or decisively confront and punish those responsible.”

UNIJOS Orders Immediate Evacuation of Students Amid Rising Insecurity in Jos

University of Jos (UNIJOS) directed all students to immediately vacate the institution’s hostels due to escalating security concerns in Jos and its surrounding areas.

The directive followed series of unsettling incidents that unfolded earlier in the day near the university campus, prompting authorities to prioritise the safety of students residing in the hostels.

According to a statement by Deputy Registrar (Information and Public Relations), Emmanuel Madugu, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, issued the evacuation order following an assessment of the prevailing security situation in the state capital.

According to the statement, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, provided transportation services to facilitate the evacuation, with vehicles authorised to operate during curfew hours.

Ishaya reiterated the institution’s commitment to exploring all available means to ensure the safety and security of the university community.