The Presidency has given reasons why President Bola Tinubu met victims of the recent killings in Jos, Plateau State, at a facility near the airport instead of visiting affected communities directly.

The Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who spoke on Friday, in a statement issued in Abuja, said logistical constraints and flight safety concerns necessitated the arrangement.

According to him, the runway at Yakubu Gowon Airport does not support night operations due to the absence of navigational aids, making it impractical for the President to travel into the city and return before dusk.

“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,” the statement read.

New Telegraph reports that the visit followed a deadly attack in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area on Palm Sunday, which left at least 28 people dead.

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The Presidency also attributed a delay in the President’s departure to prior engagements, including a meeting with Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

It noted that the meeting, which focused on strengthening bilateral security cooperation, extended beyond schedule and affected Tinubu’s travel plans.

“President Tinubu’s itinerary for Thursday included two main engagements: receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and proceeding to Iperu, Ogun State. After Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s briefing, President Tinubu suspended the trip to Ogun.

“Overnight, the Presidential Villa made arrangements for the visit to Jos, with presidential assets quickly deployed. However, the President could not postpone the scheduled visit by the Chadian leader.

“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,” the statement read.

Despite the venue of the meeting, the Presidency maintained that the visit achieved its purpose, with the President engaging victims, community leaders and security officials on ways to end recurring violence in the state.

At the meeting, Tinubu addressed victims, including a grieving mother, Mrs Rhoda, whose emotional video had circulated widely following the attack.

“I know the pain. I see in the video how you buried your loved ones and the pain and agony in your heart. But it’s only God who can give you joy and hope. No amount of money can pay all of you back,” he said.

The President also announced security measures, including the deployment of over 5,000 AI-enabled surveillance cameras across Plateau State, directives to security agencies to apprehend those responsible, and the creation of a committee to assess losses and facilitate compensation.

In addition, authorities disclosed that more than 850 troops had been deployed to reinforce security operations in the state.

The Presidency described the visit as a strategic engagement aimed at addressing the root causes of the violence, insisting that meaningful peace must involve direct engagement with affected communities.

“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,” Onanuga said.

However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the approach, describing it as insensitive.

“It is both shocking and deeply insensitive that several days after the gruesome killings of innocent citizens, the President’s so-called ‘on-the-spot assessment’ was reduced to a brief stop at the foot of his aircraft, never extending beyond the airport, never reaching the grieving communities, and never touching the pain of the victims,” he said.

He further argued that the visit appeared rushed to allow the President to proceed to Lagos for the Easter holidays, calling it “a decision that reflects a deeply troubling prioritisation in the face of national grief.”