President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of an advanced artificial intelligence-powered surveillance system as part of urgent measures to tackle rising insecurity in Plateau State.
The initiative, which will see over 5,000 digital cameras installed across the state, was announced on Thursday during the president’s visit to Jos.
The visit followed the deadly March 29 attacks in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, where several residents lost their lives.
Addressing grieving communities, Tinubu assured that decisive steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence of such violence.
“I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself,” he said while commiserating with families affected by the tragedy.
As part of immediate security responses, the President directed top security officials, including Christopher Musa, Waidi Shaibu, and Olatunji Disu, to intensify efforts to track down and apprehend those responsible for the attacks.
Tinubu further disclosed that Bosun Tijjani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, will coordinate the rollout of the AI-enabled camera network.
The project is expected to be implemented in collaboration with state authorities and security agencies.
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According to the president, the surveillance system will first be deployed across Jos before expanding to other parts of Plateau State.
He noted that the initiative builds on similar security infrastructure already operational in Lagos State and Enugu State.
Expressing deep sorrow over the killings, Tinubu emphasized that no amount of compensation could replace the lives lost but reaffirmed the government’s commitment to justice and support for victims’ families.
He also directed Bernard Doro to compile comprehensive data on affected individuals to ensure fair and transparent distribution of relief.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, described the attack as a setback to the peace the state had recently enjoyed, expressing optimism that ongoing interventions would restore stability.
The president’s visit also drew reactions from key political figures, including Jonah ttJang and Simon Lalong, both of whom called for a broad stakeholders’ meeting to address the root causes of recurring violence in the state.
Authorities believe that the deployment of cutting-edge surveillance technology, alongside strengthened security operations, will play a critical role in curbing criminal activities and preventing future attacks across Plateau State.
