Tinubu approves N2bn relief for victims of Jos killings

President Bola Tinubu has approved N2 billion in relief support for victims of the March 29 attack in Angwa Rukuba, Jos north LGA of Plateau state.

At least 28 residents were killed after gunmen opened fire at a popular bar during the attack.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said in a statement issued on Wednesday that Mohammed Dorro, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, announced the intervention at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.

Onanuga said the meeting, attended by a 32-man delegation from Plateau, was aimed at charting a permanent solution to the recurring killings in the state.

The presidential spokesperson said the meeting was a fulfilment of Tinubu’s promise to meet Plateau stakeholders for extensive discussions on the recurring violence and killings in the state following the attack on Angwa Rukuba.

Tinubu said leaders must work to restore peace in the state, noting that Plateau has historically been known for peaceful coexistence.

He urged stakeholders to return home and commit to peacebuilding efforts with “open minds”.

“No protocols, no hinderances, we are here to speak our minds and find a permanent solution to a recurring conflict and chaos,” the president said.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, welcomed the federal intervention, saying it was the first time all living former governors of the state had met in the same room to deliberate on peace.

He also assured the president that stakeholders would work to implement agreed resolutions and sustain the momentum for peace.

Mutfwang also pledged his commitment to unity, adding that the state intended to “turn conflict into profit” by addressing poverty and exclusion.

“Our coming here today shows that there is a renewed spirit on the Plateau… we are determined to close all divides of religion and ethnicity,” the governor said.

Da Jacob Gyang Buba, traditional ruler of the Berom community, called for increased military presence, installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems in Plateau, and accelerated consideration of state police as part of broader security reforms.

He also urged federal support for the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes ahead of the rainy season.

The delegation comprised former governors of the state, including Simon Lalong, Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye and Fidelis Tapgun, as well as Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC); traditional rulers; security chiefs (retired); religious leaders; and youth representatives.