Yilwatda Commends Tinubu’s Plateau Visit, Demands End to Bloodshed

Yilwatda Commends Tinubu’s Plateau Visit, Demands End to Bloodshed

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visit to Plateau State, describing it as a timely show of compassion and leadership, while calling for decisive steps to halt the recurring killings in the state.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the President’s visit to communities affected by recent violence in Jos North Local Government Area reflected national solidarity with grieving families.

He described the attack in Angwan Rukuba as “inhuman, cowardly and reprehensible,” warning that the continued loss of innocent lives must not be treated with routine condemnation.

“The continued shedding of innocent blood in Plateau is not only unacceptable but a national tragedy that must no longer be met with temporary responses,” he said.

The APC chairman noted that Tinubu’s presence in the state, where he was received by Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other stakeholders, sent a strong message that the Federal Government stands with the people in their moment of grief.

He stressed the need for coordinated and sustained action by security agencies and community leaders to prevent further attacks, urging residents to be more vigilant and proactive in reporting suspicious activities.

According to him, the pattern of violence suggests that those responsible may be operating within or around affected communities.

“These perpetrators are not ghosts. They must no longer be shielded by silence or fear. They must be identified, exposed and brought to justice,” Yilwatda stated.

He also called on security agencies to review their operational strategies, insisting that conventional approaches have failed to address the evolving nature of the threat.

Yilwatda advocated the deployment of modern surveillance tools and intelligence-driven methods to detect and neutralise criminal elements before they strike.

“The era demands smarter and more sophisticated responses, driven by intelligence, precision and accountability,” he said.

Beyond security concerns, the APC chairman warned that persistent violence is taking a toll on Plateau’s economy, particularly its tourism and agricultural potential.

He noted that insecurity continues to discourage investment and undermine development, stressing that no society can thrive under constant fear.

“No economy can grow where blood is being shed and no community can prosper where people live in fear,” he added.

Yilwatda called for a whole-of-society approach to restoring peace, urging traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders to work together in confronting the crisis.

During the visit, President Tinubu also met with families of victims, offering condolences and assurances of government support, in what the APC described as a moment of shared grief and national unity.

The party maintained that the visit goes beyond symbolism, signalling renewed commitment by the Federal Government to tackle insecurity and ensure justice for victims.

Yilwatda reiterated that the lives of Plateau residents are “sacred and non-negotiable,” insisting that those behind the killings must be tracked and prosecuted.

“Plateau must not continue to bleed. The nation must act with resolve to end this cycle of violence,” he said.