The Presidency has clarified why President Bola Tinubu addressed victims of the recent Plateau attacks at the airport in Jos rather than visiting the affected communities.
In a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, it said the decision was due to logistical and scheduling constraints.
According to the statement, Tinubu’s itinerary on Thursday included receiving Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the Presidential Villa before proceeding to Iperu in Ogun State.
However, the Presidency explained that after being briefed by Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, the President suspended the Ogun trip and arranged an emergency visit to Jos.
It noted that the bilateral meeting with the Chadian leader, which focused on strengthening security cooperation, lasted longer than expected and delayed Tinubu’s departure for Plateau.
The statement added that upon arrival in Jos, the President encountered further logistical challenges, as the airport runway does not support night operations due to the absence of navigational aids.
“President Tinubu’s itinerary for Thursday included two main engagements: receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and proceeding to Iperu, Ogun State.
“After Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s briefing, President Tinubu suspended the trip to Ogun. Overnight, the Presidential Villa made arrangements for the visit to Jos, with presidential assets quickly deployed. However, the President could not postpone the scheduled visit by the Chadian leader.
“The President of Chad was at the Presidential Villa for a very important bilateral meeting focused on strengthening security collaboration between the two countries. The meeting ran longer than expected, affecting President Tinubu’s scheduled departure for Jos,” the statement said.
Onanuga added that government officials consequently arranged for representatives of the affected communities to meet the President at a hall near the airport.
The Presidency also noted that security chiefs, including the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, and Inspector General of Police, had earlier visited Rukuba, identified as the epicentre of the violence.
It said Tinubu used the meeting to condole with victims, engage stakeholders, and discuss measures to end the recurring violence in the state.
The President further assured residents of the federal government’s commitment to justice and lasting peace, while promising the deployment of 5,000 AI-enabled cameras to strengthen security and help identify perpetrators.
Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man, John Umar Shehu, for allegedly impersonating a Nigerian Army personnel, attacking his prospective employer and stealing his vehicle.
The suspect, a native of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, was arrested over alleged criminal impersonation, criminal breach of trust, assault and theft.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, October 30, 2026.
According to the statement, the command received a written petition on October 22 from a resident of Gida Dubu area of Bauchi, who alleged that the suspect had contacted him seeking employment as a driver at his pure water factory.
The petitioner said the suspect contacted him on October 18 and was invited for an interview and driving assessment.
However, during the assessment on October 22, the suspect allegedly attacked the factory owner and the son of one of his neighbours before fleeing with the employer's vehicle.
The stolen vehicle was identified as a white H-Jet motor vehicle with registration number AE-278-ALK. A green Infinix Smart 5X mobile phone was also reportedly stolen.
The police said detectives subsequently launched an investigation and arrested the suspect through intelligence-led policing.
A search conducted on him led to the recovery of several Nigerian Army uniforms and military items, including desert camouflage, green camouflage, a jungle hat, an Army raincoat, a camouflage vest and an Army sweater.
The stolen vehicle was also recovered from the suspect in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The statement said the suspect allegedly presented himself as Private Umar Shehu, with service number NA/22/82/1064, claiming to be attached to the 7 Division, Maimalari Barracks, 134 Special Forces Battalion, Borno State.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the alleged impersonation, warning that the command would not tolerate the use of security agencies' identities to perpetrate crimes.
He said: "The Command will not tolerate criminal impersonation of security agencies to perpetrate crime."
The police commissioner further assured that the suspect would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
He added: "The suspect will be diligently investigated and charged to court."
The police said the arrest followed intelligence-led policing, while the recovered vehicle and military items would serve as exhibits in the investigation.
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashir Obasa, has declared that the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Dr Obafemi Hamzat has what it takes to succeed the current Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Obasa made this declaration while addressing journalists at Hamzat's formal manifesto presentation.
The event was held at Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
Our correspondent reports that the event took place on Friday.
DAILY POST gathered that Hamzat is the current deputy governor of the state.
He eyed the position in 2019 before he was persuaded to deputise the current governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Obasa while speaking at the event on Friday, expressed confidence in Hamzat's ability to deliver on his campaign promises.
He explained that Hamzat’s educational background and wealth of experience in private and public offices are enough for him to deliver.
Obasa while speaking said, "He has the competence, character, and most importantly, the determination to rewrite the Lagos State socio-economic narrative".