Tinubu Alters Itinerary After Chad Meeting, Holds Strategic Peace Engagement in Jos
Tinubu Alters Itinerary After Chad Meeting, Holds Strategic Peace Engagement in Jos
Tinubu Alters Itinerary After Chad Meeting, Holds Strategic Peace Engagement in Jos
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday adjusted his official itinerary following a high-level bilateral meeting with Chadian leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, prioritising a condolence and peace mission to Jos amid recent violence in the state.
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Originally scheduled to proceed to Iperu in Ogun State after receiving the Chadian President, Tinubu suspended the trip following a security briefing by Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang. Overnight, arrangements were made at the Presidential Villa for an urgent visit to Jos, with presidential assets swiftly deployed.
However, the bilateral meeting with President Déby, which focused on strengthening security cooperation between Nigeria and Chad, could not be postponed and extended longer than anticipated, delaying Tinubu’s departure.
Upon arrival in Jos, logistical constraints shaped the nature of the visit. Due to the absence of navigational aids at the airport, which prevents night flight operations, officials opted against traveling into the city. Instead, representatives of affected communities were brought to a facility near the airport to enable the President engage them directly within the available timeframe.
In attendance were top security officials, including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector-General of Police, who had earlier visited the Rukuba community, the epicentre of the recent attacks.
President Tinubu had earlier deployed a high-level delegation to the area, including his Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, to carry out preliminary security assessments and community consultations ahead of his visit.
During the engagement, the President expressed condolences to victims, listened to community leaders, and reassured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to ending the cycle of violence in Plateau State.
He emphasised that his visit was not symbolic but part of a broader strategy to address the root causes of the long-standing conflict through inclusive dialogue and coordinated action.
As part of immediate measures, Tinubu announced plans to deploy over 5,000 artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance cameras across Jos to strengthen security, improve monitoring, and aid in identifying perpetrators of violence.
He also invited community leaders to Abuja for further consultations aimed at achieving lasting peace in the state.
The meeting, which was broadcast live, was described as solemn yet reassuring, reinforcing public confidence in the government’s response.
The President reiterated that sustainable peace in Plateau must be built through collaboration with local communities, stressing that lasting solutions cannot be imposed but must be collectively achieved.
Tinubu Alters Itinerary After Chad Meeting, Holds Strategic Peace Engagement in Jos
