Plateau State in Nigeria continues to grapple with a troubling pattern of recurrent violence, with communities like Angwan Rukuba, Ban, and Jos North Local Government Area experiencing repeated attacks that leave residents in fear and uncertainty. What was once shocking has become an unfortunate norm, highlighting a deeply entrenched cycle of conflict.

The latest crisis, an attack on Angwan Rukuba community on a recent Sunday evening, resulted in 28 confirmed deaths by suspected gunmen who invaded the area, shooting indiscriminately before fleeing. The immediate aftermath saw reprisal attacks, with youths blocking roads and assaulting passersby, which prompted the imposition of a 24-hour curfew. This pattern of violence and retaliation underscores the persistent breakdown of peace in the region.

Amidst these tragic events, President Bola Tinubu visited Plateau State to commiserate with victims, a visit that sparked considerable controversy. The President met with stakeholders and victims at Yakubu Gowon Airport in Heipang, rather than visiting the directly affected communities. This decision drew widespread criticism from various quarters, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which described it as a display of insensitivity and inhumanity.

The Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, defended Tinubu's actions, citing a confluence of logistical challenges. These included the President's prior engagement with the Chadian President for a crucial bilateral meeting on security collaboration, which ran longer than anticipated. Furthermore, the 40-minute road distance from the airport to Jos township, coupled with the runway's inability to support night flights due to a lack of navigational aids, made an on-the-spot assessment in the communities unfeasible before dusk. Officials decided to bring community representatives to a hall adjoining the airport. The Presidency asserted that the visit, despite criticisms, was symbolic and strategic, aiming to engage critical stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to the decades-old conflict.

However, the PDP faction led by Tanimu Turaki strongly condemned the President's visit as