President Bola Tinubu has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 surveillance cameras in Plateau State after the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, which killed over 27 people. The directive was issued during a town hall meeting with political and traditional leaders in Jos on Thursday.
“The Honourable Minister for Communication is here to give you assurance that we are going to install immediately a network of cameras that will help the law enforcement agencies to identify the troublemakers instantly, over 5,000 of that,” Tinubu stated as he invited Dr. Bosun Tijani to explain the plan.
Tinubu acknowledged that no compensation could replace the lives lost but promised government support for victims’ families. He also directed security chiefs, including the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff, to apprehend those responsible for the killings.
Official Statement from the President:
“I thank the men and women of the armed forces, particularly the police, for what they are doing and what they are about to do. You must unearth and find the killers. Immediately we return to Abuja, a committee, including the governor and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, will assess losses suffered by victims and recommend compensation. We cannot replace human beings, but whatever we can do to give them minimum comfort, we will,” Tinubu said.
Dr. Tijani added that the cameras would be powered by artificial intelligence and deployed across the state, beginning with Jos. The technology will enable real-time monitoring and faster response to security threats.
“We will work with the governor to deepen the digital infrastructure we have. We will have a network of AI-enabled cameras all over the state, starting with Jos,” Tijani stated, noting that similar systems are operational in states such as Lagos and Enugu.
The minister expressed personal concern over the continued violence in Jos after more than two decades, promising full support from his ministry to strengthen security.
Plateau State has experienced recurring violence over the years, often stemming from communal and ethnic tensions, highlighting the need for proactive security measures.
