…5,000 CCTV Cameras, 850 Soldiers Deployed as President, Again, Pledges End to Killings
By Abu Adamu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged decisive action to end the wave of killings in Plateau State, directing security chiefs and the Minister of Defence to track down and bring perpetrators to justice while unveiling an expansive surveillance and security reinforcement plan.
Speaking at a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Jos on Thursday, the President condemned the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, which claimed over 28 lives, assuring residents that those responsible would not escape accountability.
“I was not elected to create widows and widowers,” Tinubu declared, as he moved to reassure a grieving state.
In a major policy announcement, the President approved the deployment of 5,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras across Plateau to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve surveillance coverage, and enable rapid response to security threats.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who welcomed the President, said the visit came at a critical moment, noting that the state had begun to enjoy relative peace and rising investor confidence before the latest attack disrupted progress.
Describing the incident as a setback, Mutfwang expressed confidence that the combined efforts of the Federal Government and security agencies would restore stability. He revealed that a recent State Security Council meeting had produced far-reaching decisions to address the situation.
The governor also acknowledged the often-unseen efforts of security operatives in preventing attacks, adding that the crisis—spanning nearly three decades—had persisted through the administrations of Joshua Dariye, Jonah Jang, and Simon Lalong.
Former governor Jonah Jang called for a follow-up engagement with the President in Abuja to chart a sustainable path to peace, warning against attempts to exploit insecurity to derail upcoming elections.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by Simon Lalong and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, both of whom emphasised unity and sustained collaboration in tackling the crisis.
In a parallel move to reinforce security operations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, ordered the immediate deployment of over 850 additional troops to the state.
The reinforcements, drawn from Abuja and Kaduna formations, are to bolster Operation Enduring Peace, with a mandate to stabilise volatile areas, safeguard lives and property, and restore public order.
Addressing troops at the Joint Task Force headquarters in Jos, the army chief urged personnel to remain disciplined and resolute in confronting criminal elements threatening peace in the state.
A statement by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, spokesperson for the operation, confirmed that adequate logistics and combat support had been provided to ensure mission effectiveness.