President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦2 billion relief package for victims affected by the March 29 attack in Angwa Rukuban, Jos, while calling on leaders in Plateau State to take decisive steps toward ending the cycle of violence.
Details of the approval were made known by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga following an interactive session between the President and a 32-member delegation from Plateau State. The meeting was part of an earlier commitment by the President to engage key stakeholders after the unrest in Jos North Local Government Area.
During the engagement, which lasted about three hours, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mohammed Dorro, confirmed that the relief fund had been approved to support those affected by the attack.
At the end of the discussions, leaders from Plateau State expressed a renewed resolve to pursue peace, acknowledging the urgency of addressing long-standing tensions fueling recurring crises.
President Tinubu directed stakeholders, led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, to return to the state with a clear focus on reconciliation and conflict resolution. He emphasised the need to revisit previous government White Papers on security crises and implement recommendations that can deliver real results.
“As leaders, you must go back home, summon a leadership meeting among yourselves, take the gazette, review the previous recommendations and agree to implement the White Paper,” the President said.
He further advised them to identify lingering issues and present workable solutions for federal consideration, stressing that leadership must take responsibility in preventing further violence.
President Tinubu also underscored the importance of unity, urging residents to place peaceful coexistence above ethnic, religious, or political divisions.
“Let us first of all accept one resolution – tolerance for every inhabitant… If people are being recruited to provoke anger, conflict and killings, it is you, the leaders, that should first of all examine yourselves,” he said.
He noted that Plateau State, once known for peaceful coexistence, must reclaim that reputation through deliberate and committed leadership.
“No protocols, no hinderances, we are here to speak our minds and find a permanent solution to a recurring conflict and chaos. Everybody here is seeking peace. How do we chart our path to that peace?” he added.
The President also cautioned against allowing divisive forces to destabilise communities, urging leaders to promote justice, fairness, and inclusion, while ensuring that all residents feel a sense of belonging. He directed the state government to identify those responsible for inciting violence and ensure they are brought to justice.
In his response, Governor Mutfwang appreciated the President’s continued support, describing the meeting as a significant moment of unity, particularly as it brought together all former governors of the state.
“Our coming here today shows that there is a renewed spirit on the plateau; that we want to be together,” the governor said.
He pledged that the state’s leadership would build on the renewed momentum to strengthen unity and turn challenges into opportunities for development.
“We are determined more than ever to close all our gaps, ensure that we rise above all the divides of religion and ethnicity, and build a state we can all be proud of,” he said.
“Having gathered this momentum, we want to assure you, by God’s grace, that we will build on it to tell a better story in the years to come.”
The governor also reaffirmed Plateau State’s support for national development initiatives.
Also speaking, the Gbong Gwon Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, commended the President for his peace efforts, while calling for enhanced security measures, including increased troop deployment and the installation of surveillance systems. He also urged support for the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.