President Bola Tinubu has returned to the country from the ongoing United Nations conference on climate change in Dubai. 

His arrival on Tuesday evening, which saw a traffic standstill for about 45 minutes on the highway leading to the airport, is on the backdrop of public outrage over the killing of no less than 126 civilians in Kaduna by military drone strikes, an incident the army authorities said was accidental. 

Peoples Gazette inquired from the president’s close associates whether the return was as scheduled or arranged due to the volatile situation developing back home. His long-time ally and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, confirmed the return was as scheduled. 

Army authorities have tried to calm the situation, with Chief of Army Staff Taoreed Lagbaja paying a condolence visit to the affected Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. But public outrage continues to boil as the nation awaits a leader to take control of the situation several hours later. 

The president departed the country on November 30 with his chief of staff, several ministers and cabinet members and, in what observers have remarked as unusual, the country’s police chief, Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun. 

It is not immediately clear whether Mr Tinubu’s participation in the COP28 event has now ended or whether his large delegation can continue to advance discussions. The trip came under fire in the past days for the number of delegates, most of whom were sponsored on scarce federal resources.