The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's visit to Plateau State, calling it a shallow and delayed response to the March 29, 2026, killings that left 28 people dead. In a statement issued by National Publicity Secretary Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party accused the Presidency of remaining silent for over 48 hours after the attacks before acting only amid mounting public pressure. Tinubu's visit occurred days later and was confined to a short meeting at the Jos airport lounge, with the Presidency citing time constraints and inadequate airport lighting as reasons for not travelling to affected communities. The PDP described the stop as performative, quoting its statement that "the President's insensitivity and inhumanity were on full display" and that he appeared impatient during the engagement. The party dismissed the Federal Government's plan to deploy 5,000 CCTV cameras as a laughable solution to deep-rooted security challenges. It urged a community-driven strategy to tackle violence in Plateau State, warning that symbolic gestures offer no comfort to grieving families. The Presidency has not responded to the latest critique but previously defended the visit due to logistical and security considerations.
A president who cannot set foot in a crisis zone without citing airport lighting as a barrier signals a disconnect far beyond logistics. Tinubu's airport-lounge engagement in Jos, coming days after 28 deaths and only after public outcry, frames presidential presence as performance, not leadership. If the response to mass killings is a photo-op behind terminal walls and a promise of surveillance cameras, then Nigerians in conflict zones are being offered optics, not safety. This episode does little to inspire confidence that the administration grasps the depth of fear in communities where violence is routine.
