President Bola Tinubu has appealed to families affected by the deadly March 2026 attacks in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, to forgive him for failing to visit their communities during his previous trip to the state.
Tinubu made the appeal on Saturday while addressing supporters at the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-Central presidential campaign rally in Jos.
The President explained that his previous visit to Plateau was restricted to the airport, preventing him from travelling to the affected communities to personally assess the destruction caused by the attacks.
He acknowledged the devastation and suffering experienced by residents, saying he had received reports from Governor Caleb Mutfwang and witnessed the horror reflected in the faces of affected residents.
“When I last visited the other time, I was limited to the airport. Forgive me if you didn’t see me in the hinterland. But I saw the devastation; I got the report from the governor. I saw horror in the faces of our people.
“But since then, that has changed; we are forging together,” Tinubu said.
The President also assured displaced residents that their communities would be rebuilt to enable them to return to their homes.
He expressed sympathy with families who had lost loved ones to recurring attacks in Plateau State, noting that too many lives had been lost to violence in the state since 2001.
Tinubu Orders Security Agencies To Restore Peace In Plateau
Addressing the security situation, Tinubu disclosed that he had directed security agencies to take decisive measures to restore and sustain peace across Plateau State.
He called for unity among residents, insisting that differences in language and cultural backgrounds should not become reasons for division.
“I have directed all the security agencies to take decisive action and sustain peace and stability on the Plateau.
“What we should be getting is prosperity, not havoc, not crisis. Our government is not elected to inflict wounds on one another or to bury people. We have to lift people up from penury to prosperity,” he stated.
Tinubu also announced that 1,000 forest guards were undergoing training as part of efforts to strengthen security in rural communities.
“One thousand forest guards are undergoing training right now. You will feel them; you will see them. You will feel secure in your villages and communities,” he added.
The President further disclosed that surveillance cameras had been procured as previously promised, assuring residents that his administration was working to address their security concerns and ease their suffering.
Background Of Anguwan Rukuba Attack
The deadly attack in Anguwan Rukuba, located in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, occurred in March 2026, leaving at least 20 people dead and several others injured.
Following the incident, Tinubu met with affected families at the Jos Airport on April 2, where he offered condolences and assured them that the tragedy would not happen again.
However, the President faced criticism for not visiting the affected communities during the trip.
His spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, subsequently explained that the President’s movement was restricted by a scheduled meeting with the President of Chad.
Tinubu’s latest appeal for forgiveness comes amid renewed political engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
