The Presidency has clarified why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met victims of the Plateau killings at the airport instead of visiting affected communities in Jos.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, logistical limitations and flight restrictions made it impractical for the president to travel into the city and return to the airport before nightfall.
He explained that the runway at the airport lacks facilities for night operations, making it necessary to conduct the meeting at a nearby hall to ensure the visit stayed within safe aviation limits.
The president’s visit followed a deadly attack in Jos, where dozens of people were killed, triggering national concern over rising insecurity.
The Presidency also noted that Tinubu’s delayed arrival was due to a prior engagement with Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who visited Abuja for talks on regional security cooperation.
Despite the venue, officials said the meeting allowed the president to engage victims, community representatives, and security chiefs while discussing long-term solutions to the crisis.
During the visit, Tinubu expressed sympathy to affected families and assured them of government support, while also directing security agencies to intensify efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.
He further announced plans to strengthen security measures in the state and improve surveillance to prevent future attacks.
However, the visit drew criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described the approach as inadequate and insensitive to the scale of the tragedy.
The Presidency, in response, maintained that the visit was strategic and achieved its core objective of engaging stakeholders and reassuring victims.
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