APC National chairman hails Tinubu’s visit, demand crackdown on killers

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State, describing it as a powerful show of compassion, leadership, and national solidarity following the recent killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area.

Tinubu was received in Jos by Yilwatda, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, former governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and stakeholders across Plateau State as he commiserated with affected families and reassured the state of renewed federal commitment to restoring peace.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC National Chairman condemned the killings as “inhuman, cowardly, and a direct assault on the peace and soul of Plateau State.” He said the recurring violence in the state had become a national tragedy that could no longer be met with “routine outrage and temporary responses.”

Yilwatda urged local leaders and communities to intensify vigilance and report suspicious activities, warning that many perpetrators of the attacks are not “invisible invaders” but criminals operating within or around the same communities they terrorize.

The APC chairman called on security agencies to overhaul their approach and adopt advanced intelligence and surveillance technologies—including AI-powered cameras, drones, tracking systems, and real-time data tools—to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

“Security agencies cannot continue to deploy outdated tactics and expect different results,” he said, insisting that modern security challenges demand smarter and more responsive strategies.

Yilwatda also highlighted the economic consequences of persistent violence, noting that Plateau’s rich tourism and agricultural potential continues to suffer due to insecurity. No economy, he warned, can thrive where fear dominates daily life.

He appealed for a unified, all-inclusive approach to restoring peace, urging traditional rulers, religious leaders, political actors, youth groups, women’s groups, security agencies, and community stakeholders to work together toward lasting solutions.

President Tinubu’s visit to the bereaved families was described as deeply emotional, with the APC emphasizing that the gesture goes beyond symbolism and signals the Federal Government’s determination to tackle violence in Plateau with renewed urgency.

The party expressed optimism that the President will continue broader engagements with Plateau leaders to develop long-term strategies for stability, justice, and reconciliation.

“The lives of Plateau citizens are sacred and non-negotiable,” the statement read. “Those who sow death and division must be hunted down and brought to justice. Plateau must never be allowed to bleed again.”