President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned N2 billion as relief assistance for victims of the March 29 attack in Angwa Rukuba, located in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Gunmen had stormed a popular bar in the area during the incident and killed at least 28 residents.
The presidency disclosed the approval on Wednesday through Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy. He said Mohammed Dorro, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, announced the intervention at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, the meeting brought together a 32-member delegation from Plateau State. It focused on finding a lasting solution to the repeated violence and killings in the state. He added that the gathering fulfilled Tinubu’s earlier promise to engage stakeholders after the Angwa Rukuba attack.
Addressing participants, the president stressed the need for collective action to restore peace. He noted that Plateau had a long history of peaceful coexistence. He urged stakeholders to return to their communities and promote reconciliation with “open minds”.
“No protocols, no hinderances, we are here to speak our minds and find a permanent solution to a recurring conflict and chaos,” the president said.
Speaking for the delegation, Plateau State governor Caleb Mutfwang welcomed the federal government’s intervention. He described the meeting as historic. He said it marked the first time all living former governors of the state gathered in one place to discuss peace.
Mutfwang assured the president that stakeholders would implement agreed resolutions and sustain efforts toward stability. He also reaffirmed his commitment to unity. He said the state aimed to “turn conflict into profit” by tackling poverty and social exclusion.
“Our coming here today shows that there is a renewed spirit on the Plateau… we are determined to close all divides of religion and ethnicity,” the governor said.
Da Jacob Gyang Buba, the traditional ruler of the Berom community, called for stronger security measures. He urged the federal government to increase military presence and deploy closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems across Plateau. He also advocated for speedy consideration of state police as part of broader reforms.
The monarch further appealed for support to enable internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their ancestral homes before the rainy season begins.
The Plateau delegation included former governors Simon Lalong, Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, and Fidelis Tapgun. Others in attendance were Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), traditional rulers, retired security chiefs, religious leaders, and youth representatives.
