Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security in the state.
Mutfwang gave the commendation on Thursday when President Tinubu visited Jos, the state capital, to commiserate with families of victims of the recent attack at Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area.
The governor expressed appreciation for the President’s continued support for the state, saying: ‘I want to use this opportunity to thank President Tinubu for all he has been doing for our state.
‘Let me not forget the approval to recruit 1,000 forest guards to add to the security network here.
This will soon become a reality, among other things that you are doing and you have done for us’.
Mutfwang noted that the approval, which was granted in January, would significantly boost the state’s security architecture.
While acknowledging the solemn nature of the visit, the governor prayed for President Tinubu’s return to Plateau under more joyous circumstances.
‘Today’s visit is to console and commiserate with us. Therefore, we will not take away from the soberness of this moment. However, I want to place it on record, Mr President, that we are truly grateful for this visit’, he said.
Mutfwang also lauded President Tinubu for the support given to Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe as the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, assuring that Plateau State would give him full support.
He further commended the President for approving the dualisation of the Akwanga-Jos road, describing it as a critical infrastructure project for the region.
Speaking during the visit, President Tinubu announced plans to strengthen security surveillance in the state with the immediate installation of a network of 5,000 cameras to help law enforcement agencies identify perpetrators of violence.
‘We are going to install immediately a network of cameras that will help law enforcement agencies identify the troublemakers instantly’, President Tinubu said.
The President urged community leaders and residents to work together to break the cycle of violence, stressing the need for unity and peaceful coexistence.
‘We must break the shackles of violence, ignorance, poverty and hopelessness together’, he added.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, highlighted the importance of strengthening trust between communities and security agencies to curb further attacks. He noted that several communities in the state, including Wase and Kanam, have also experienced terror attacks, resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of property. ‘Beyond security deployments, we must rebuild confidence between citizens and security institutions to effectively stem this tide’, he stated.
Reinforcing the administration’s commitment to modern security solutions, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed plans to deploy surveillance infrastructure across Plateau State, beginning with Jos. ‘This is not an empty promise. We are deploying AI-enabled camera networks that have already proven effective in other parts of the country’, he stated.
