Tinubu Promises 5,000 AI Cameras, Orders Security Chiefs to Track Plateau Attackers
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured residents of Plateau State that the Federal Government will deploy an artificial intelligence-enabled network of over 5,000 digital surveillance cameras to tackle insecurity across the state.
The President made the pledge on Thursday during a condolence visit to Jos following the March 29 attacks in Angwan Rukuba, which claimed several lives.
“I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself,” Tinubu said, as he sympathised with victims and families affected by the violence.
He directed the Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to intensify efforts to track down and apprehend those responsible for the killings.
Tinubu disclosed that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, would oversee the immediate rollout of the surveillance system in collaboration with the Plateau State Government and security agencies. He noted that deployment would begin in Jos before expanding statewide, building on similar systems in Lagos and Enugu.
Addressing grieving families at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, the President acknowledged the depth of their loss, stating that no compensation could replace lives lost but assuring that the government would provide support.
He also directed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro, to compile comprehensive data on affected persons to ensure fair distribution of assistance.
Calling for lasting solutions, Tinubu urged leaders to learn from past crises and prioritise peace and unity. “We were elected to bring prosperity and inclusiveness, not to create widows and widowers,” he said.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang described the attack as a temporary setback, expressing confidence that security interventions would restore peace. He also thanked the President for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen local security.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, commended Tinubu for standing with the people of the state, expressing hope that the visit would boost security efforts.
Former governor Jonah David Jang called for a high-level meeting in Abuja involving past leaders and traditional rulers to find lasting solutions, warning that the spread of violence into urban areas is a worrying trend.
Similarly, former governor Simon Lalong stressed that sustainable peace must come from within the state, urging dialogue among stakeholders, while former Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase called for stronger coordination between air and ground forces to tackle security threats.
The President’s visit underscores renewed federal efforts to curb recurring violence in Plateau State, which has faced longstanding communal and security challenges.
Tinubu Promises 5,000 AI Cameras, Orders Security Chiefs to Track Plateau Attackers