A wave of national outrage has erupted following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s controversial visit to Plateau State, where he declined to visit the scene of the Palm Sunday massacre in Angwan Rukuba, opting instead to meet victims at an airport facility nearly 40 minutes away. The massacre, which claimed at least 28 lives, had shocked the nation, with harrowing images, including that of a grieving mother clutching her slain son; galvanizing public grief and anger. Many Nigerians expected a solemn presidential visit to the affected community. Instead, victims and bereaved families were transported to a hall adjoining the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Heipang to meet the President.
The decision has been widely condemned as insensitive and detached. Critics argue that rather than confronting the devastation firsthand, the President remained within the confines of the airport before departing the state the same day. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the visit as “a brief stop at the foot of his aircraft,” accusing the President of failing to “touch the pain of the victims.”
The Presidency has defended the arrangement, citing logistical constraints, including a delayed diplomatic engagement with Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, the 40-minute travel distance to Jos, and the airport’s inability to support night operations. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga insisted that it was “unfeasible” for the President to visit the actual site and return safely before dusk.
However, these explanations have done little to quell public anger.
Analysts say the optics of the visit have deepened an already growing perception of detachment between Nigeria’s political leadership and citizens facing escalating insecurity. The symbolism of victims being brought to the President rather than the President going to them, has been particularly damaging.
During the visit, President Tinubu announced new security measures, including the planned deployment of 5,000 AI-powered surveillance cameras and the establishment of a committee to assess damages and provide compensation. Yet, for many residents of Plateau State, these promises echo previous responses to recurring violence — responses they say have failed to prevent further bloodshed.
The controversy has also reignited broader concerns about the state of security in Nigeria. Observers note that both President Tinubu and Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang have now faced criticism for appearing unwilling to physically engage with affected communities without heavy security protection. For many Nigerians, the message is stark: if even the Commander-in-Chief cannot safely visit a massacre site, what hope remains for ordinary citizens living in vulnerable communities?
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