Why Tinubu addressed Jos attack victims at airport ― Presidency

The Presidency has explained that President Bola Tinubu addressed victims of the recent attacks in Plateau State at the airport in Jos due to logistical and security constraints that made it difficult to hold the meeting in town.

Tinubu departed Abuja for Plateau State on Thursday, April 2, 2026, following deadly attacks in the Angwan Rukuba district of Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

The president met with the families of the victims and other stakeholders at the airport in Jos, a development that elicited reactions from Nigerians.

However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Friday, explained that Tinubu had initially scheduled two engagements for Thursday, including receiving Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno and travelling to Iperu in Ogun State.

Onanuga said after receiving a briefing from Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang on the attacks, the president suspended his trip to Ogun State and directed arrangements for a visit to Plateau State.

Onanuga noted that Tinubu could not postpone the visit of the Chadian president, who was at the Presidential Villa in Abuja for a crucial bilateral meeting aimed at strengthening security collaboration between Nigeria and Chad.

He said upon arrival in Jos, further challenges emerged as the runway at the airport does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids.

Onanuga stated: “The President of Chad was at the Presidential Villa for a very important bilateral meeting focused on strengthening security collaboration between the two countries. The meeting ran longer than expected, affecting President Tinubu’s scheduled departure for Jos.

“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered some logistical challenges. While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids. The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk.

“Consequently, state and federal officials decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet with them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions.

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“Among the people in the hall were the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police, who had visited Rukuba, the epicentre of the conflict.  President Tinubu deployed the high-level team to Rukuba, including the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, to undertake critical groundwork on security and community engagement, with a view to stabilising the area before his arrival.”

The presidential spokesman stressed that Tinubu’s visit was “not merely symbolic”, but a strategic engagement focused on addressing the root causes of insecurity and fostering sustainable peace.

He added: “Beyond expressing his condolences to the victims, President Tinubu’s objective was to engage with critical stakeholders in Plateau State on ending the recurring, decades-old conflict that has resulted in needless loss of lives and property.

“President Tinubu’s visit to Jos was not merely symbolic. It was a strategic, high-level engagement aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity in the state.

“Furthermore, the President invited the community leaders to Abuja for further talks on finding a lasting solution to the recurring violence in the state.

“The meeting, televised live, was solemn and reassuring, boosting residents’ confidence. President Tinubu achieved the purpose of his visit, despite the naysayers’ attempts to ridicule it. He dropped an unmistakable message: sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them.”