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Jos Killings: “Don’t Give Up on Nigeria” – Makinde Tells Angwan Rukuba Grieving Community, Meets Ayuba Family
Jos Killings: “Don’t Give Up on Nigeria” – Makinde Tells Angwan Rukuba Grieving Community, Meets Ayuba Family
Makinde urges Angwan Rukuba residents not to give up on Nigeria, assuring grieving families that they are not alone.
APM presidential candidate pays condolence visit to the family of slain Promise Gideon Ayuba; his mother, Favour Ayuba, reportedly offers prayers and blessings.
President Tinubu visited Plateau after the massacre but met affected residents at the airport instead of visiting the actual attack site.
Makinde visits COCIN and ECWA churches in Jos, reiterating his Reset Nigeria security agenda ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
November 09, () – Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has urged residents of Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State not to give up on Nigeria, assuring families who lost loved ones in the March 29 massacre that they are not alone in their grief.
Makinde gave the assurance on Sunday during a visit to the community, where he commiserated with residents over the Palm Sunday attack that claimed 33 lives and left several others injured.
Makinde expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and urged residents not to lose hope in the country despite the insecurity and hardship they have experienced.
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While commiserating with the victims at the residence of the Mai Angwa, Makinde stated that he was not there to politicize the situation, but to acknowledge it as a national tragedy.
“I am here to sympathize with you over your pain and loss, both as a Nigerian and as a parent. We are praying that things like this do not happen again. Do not give up on Nigeria. The Bible says that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. You are not alone; we are here to commiserate with you. Many Nigerians are deeply saddened by what took place,” he said.
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He reiterated his commitment to a Nigeria where the safety and protection of every citizen would be non-negotiable, stressing that no community should be abandoned to insecurity and no family should have to live in fear.
The Oyo State Governor also paid a condolence visit to the family of Promise Gideon Ayuba, one of the victims of the attack, where he met his mother, Mrs Favour Ayuba, who offered prayers and blessings for him.
The visit, according to a statement from Makinde’s campaign organisation, was part of his engagements with communities and religious institutions in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general election.
The APM candidate also reaffirmed the security pillar of his proposed Reset Nigeria Agenda, which he said would prioritise the protection of lives and property, strengthen security institutions and ensure that communities are not left vulnerable to attacks.
Meets Family of Slain Promise Ayuba
A significant part of Makinde’s visit was his condolence engagement with the family of Promise Gideon Ayuba, who was among those killed in the Angwan Rukuba attack.
His mother, Mrs Favour Ayuba, received the presidential candidate and offered prayers and blessings for him.
The encounter comes months after the bereaved mother attracted national attention following the circulation of an emotional video showing her mourning her son and placing a cutlass in his coffin while demanding justice for his killing.
The incident highlighted the depth of grief among families affected by the attack and the continuing emotional and economic consequences of the violence on the community.
In September, Mrs Ayuba was also among the victims’ relatives who recounted their experiences during a visit by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to Plateau State.
Her family’s experience has become one of the human stories associated with the Angwan Rukuba killings, which renewed national attention on the recurring violence in Plateau State.
How 33 People Were Killed
Makinde paid condolence visit to the family of Promise Gideon Ayuba one of the victims of the attack where he met his mother Mrs Favour Ayuba who offered prayers and blessings for him
The Angwan Rukuba attack occurred on the evening of Sunday, March 29, 2026, when armed men riding motorcycles invaded the Gari Ya Waye area of the community and opened fire on residents.
had reported that the attackers moved through the neighbourhood, banging on doors and shooting people inside homes and shops.
The attack initially left more than 20 people dead, with the death toll rising to 28 by the following morning as some of the injured victims died in hospital.
On April 7, the Plateau State Government confirmed that the death toll had climbed to 33.
The confirmation was made by the Chief of Staff to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Jeremiah Satmark, while representing the governor at a funeral service for some of the victims at an ECWA church in Angwan Rukuba.
The killings provoked widespread condemnation and renewed concerns over the security situation in Plateau State, where communities have experienced repeated attacks and loss of life.
Tinubu’s Visit And The Airport Controversy
The Angwan Rukuba massacre also generated public criticism over President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to visit the affected community during his trip to Plateau State.
Three days after the attack, on April 2, Tinubu travelled to Jos to commiserate with the government and people of the state.
However, rather than visit Angwan Rukuba, the President met community representatives, victims and other stakeholders at Yakubu Gowon Airport in Heipang.
Addressing the gathering, Tinubu expressed condolences and assured residents that the tragedy would not be repeated.
“There is nothing I can give you, whether money in billions, but to console you and promise you that this experience will not repeat itself,” the President said.
He also announced plans to deploy an artificial intelligence-enabled network of more than 5,000 digital surveillance cameras across Plateau State to assist security agencies in monitoring threats and identifying perpetrators.
The Presidency subsequently explained that the President’s late arrival in Jos, logistical difficulties, and restrictions on night flights at the airport made it impracticable for him to travel into the city and return before dusk.
In a statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the decision was taken to enable Tinubu to meet representatives of the affected community promptly while complying with aviation safety restrictions.
The decision nevertheless attracted criticism from some residents and Nigerians, who argued that a direct visit to the affected community would have offered a stronger demonstration of solidarity with the victims.
Makinde Visits COCIN, ECWA Churches
Apart from his engagement with the bereaved community, Makinde also visited Christian institutions in Jos as part of his activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Earlier on Sunday, he attended a church service at the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos, where he urged Christians to participate actively in politics and contribute to shaping the country’s future.
The APM presidential candidate argued that Christians should not withdraw from the political process because of the perception that politics is dirty or morally compromised.
He urged members of the congregation to make their voices heard and participate in choosing leaders capable of addressing the country’s challenges.
Makinde also attributed his political journey to his faith in God, maintaining that his presidential ambition was driven by the desire to reposition Nigeria.
The President of COCIN, Reverend Amos Mohzo, urged the presidential candidate to address the country’s major challenges, particularly insecurity and economic hardship.
Makinde subsequently visited the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Plateau Church in Jos, where he thanked members of the congregation for receiving his delegation warmly.
In a message following the visit, he called for prayers for Nigeria and divine guidance as the country prepares for the 2027 general election.
“May our prayers be answered and may God show us mercy as we choose our leaders in 2027,” he said.
The church engagements formed part of the APM candidate’s wider consultations and political mobilisation in Plateau State.
APM’s Reset Nigeria Agenda
Makinde’s visit to Angwan Rukuba comes as he intensifies his presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.
His proposed Reset Nigeria Agenda identifies security, economic development, education and governance reforms as major priorities.
On security, the campaign has promised a comprehensive approach to addressing insecurity through improved intelligence gathering, stronger coordination among security agencies, effective emergency response mechanisms and greater community participation.
The APM candidate has argued that the protection of lives and property must remain a primary responsibility of government and that no part of the country should be left vulnerable to attacks.
The security component of his agenda is particularly relevant to Plateau State, which has experienced recurring violence, communal tensions and attacks on rural communities.
Makinde’s Plateau engagements followed the formal commencement of the APM presidential campaign in Bauchi State on Saturday, November 7.
The campaign team is expected to hold its Plateau State rally at Rayfield Park, Jos, on Monday, November 9, as the party seeks to strengthen its grassroots presence across the state’s 17 local government areas.
The party has also announced a campaign council comprising more than 5,000 members in Plateau State as part of its mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 polls.
Makinde’s visit to the grieving Angwan Rukuba community, his condolence engagement with the Ayuba family, and his meetings with Christian congregations formed part of the campaign’s wider activities in the state.
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