President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday to meet with victims of recent killings, though he did not travel to Angwa Rukuba, the community where the violence occurred. The presidency explained the brief stopover was due to scheduling conflicts and flight safety limitations. Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu had initially planned to host Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa before proceeding to Iperu, Ogun State. After a security briefing from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Tinubu cancelled the Ogun trip and arranged an overnight visit to Jos.
The meeting with Déby lasted longer than expected, delaying Tinubu's departure. Upon arrival in Jos, logistical issues prevented travel into town, as the airport lacks navigational aids for night operations. Officials decided to bring community representatives to a hall near the airport so the president could meet them before dusk. Present were the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, and Inspector-General of Police, who had visited Angwa Rukuba. A high-level team, including the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, was deployed to the conflict zone ahead of the visit. The presidency stated Tinubu's goal was engagement with stakeholders to end the long-standing conflict.
A president flying in and out of a crisis zone within hours signals urgency, but Tinubu's airport meeting with Jos victims risks appearing performative given the absence of a ground visit to Angwa Rukuba. While the deployment of top security officials shows effort, the logistical excuse underscores persistent neglect in critical infrastructure at regional airports. For Plateau residents weary of decades of violence, a brief airport stop, no matter how well-intentioned, changes little on the ground.
