The Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has explained that he met family and victims of the Jos killing at the Yakubu Gowon Airport as a result of flight restrictions and logistical constraints
Penpushing reports that the Presidency made the explanation in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday, stating that the runway at the airport does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids.
The statement added that this development made it difficult for the President driving into Jos township, hence, the meeting was held at a hall adjoining the airport, as option arrangements, and had to return before dusk
“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered some logistical challenges. While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids. The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk’, Onanuga wrote.
“Consequently, state and federal officials decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet with them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions,” the statement read.
Penpushing further reports that the visit came days after gunmen attacked the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos North Local Government Area on Palm Sunday, killing at least 28 people in one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence in the state in recent years.
The statement in same vein, explained the delay in Tinubu’s departure for Jos, stating that his itinerary for Thursday had included receiving Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa for a bilateral meeting on security cooperation.
Penpushing also reports that Onanuga said the President had earlier planned to travel to Iperu, Ogun State, on Thursday, but suspended the trip after Governor Mutfwang briefed him on the security situation in Plateau State.
“President Tinubu’s itinerary for Thursday included two main engagements: receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and proceeding to Iperu, Ogun State. After Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s briefing, President Tinubu suspended the trip to Ogun’, the statement stated.
“Overnight, the Presidential Villa made arrangements for the visit to Jos, with presidential assets quickly deployed. However, the President could not postpone the scheduled visit by the Chadian leader’, Onanuga wrote.
“The President of Chad was at the Presidential Villa for a very important bilateral meeting focused on strengthening security collaboration between the two countries. The meeting ran longer than expected, affecting President Tinubu’s scheduled departure for Jos,” the statement added.
Penpushing reports that the Presidency stated that despite the airport setting, the visit achieved its objectives, with Tinubu consoling victims, listening to community leaders and engaging key stakeholders on ending the decades-long cycle of violence in the state.
“President Tinubu’s visit to Jos was not merely symbolic. It was a strategic, high-level engagement aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity in the state,” Onanuga said.
Penpushing further reports that the President at the meeting addressed a grieving mother, Mrs Rhoda, whose video clutching the bloodied corpse of her son had gone viral and become the defining image of the attack, and identified her son as Ayuba.
“I know the pain. I see in the video how you buried your loved ones and the pain and agony in your heart. But it’s only God who can give you joy and hope. No amount of money can pay all of you back’, he said.
Penpushing also reports that Tinubu announced the deployment of over 5,000 AI-enabled cameras across Plateau State, directed security chiefs to track down the killers, constituted a committee to assess losses and provide compensation, and invited community leaders to Abuja for further talks.
Meanwhile, among those present at the hall were the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff and Inspector-General of Police, who had earlier visited Rukuba ahead of the President’s arrival, while the Nigerian Army separately announced the deployment of over 850 additional troops to reinforce operations under Operation Enduring Peace.
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