President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to visit Benue State on Wednesday to commiserate with the victims of recent violent attacks. The President said he would adjust his schedule to undertake the condolence visit, emphasizing the need to show solidarity with the grieving communities.
“I will adjust my programme and go see Benue people on Wednesday,” Tinubu said on Monday during the inauguration of the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project in the Federal Capital Territory.
The President extended his sympathies to the people of Benue and those who lost loved ones in the spate of attacks that have ravaged the state in recent weeks. He urged residents to overcome anger, frustration, and divisions by embracing unity and peaceful coexistence.
During his visit, Tinubu is expected to meet with a broad range of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political leaders, religious figures, community representatives, and youth groups, to chart a path toward lasting peace in the state.
In preparation for the visit, the President has dispatched a high-level delegation to Benue. This includes the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the chairpersons of the Senate and House Defence Committees.
According to a statement released by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will also hold a town hall meeting with stakeholders as part of his engagement in the state.
Mounting criticism and outrage
President Tinubu’s planned visit follows growing criticism from opposition figures and public outcry over the Federal Government’s perceived inaction. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party leader Peter Obi have both condemned the administration’s delayed response to the crisis, urging the President to fulfill his constitutional duty to protect citizens.
Benue State, a major food-producing region in the North-Central zone, has long been plagued by deadly attacks, often blamed on suspected herdsmen. The violence, rooted in disputes over land use between nomadic pastoralists and indigenous agrarian communities, has escalated dramatically in recent weeks.
At least 160 residents have been reported killed in the latest wave of attacks, which have sparked nationwide outrage and calls for urgent intervention. Pope Leo XIV described the massacre as an act of “extreme cruelty,” adding his voice to a chorus of international and domestic condemnation.
Government’s response
In a renewed effort to restore order, President Tinubu on Sunday directed security chiefs to fully implement measures aimed at achieving lasting peace in the state. On Monday, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Benue with senior officers and ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical units to bolster security.
The IGP met with Governor Hyacinth Alia and other state officials to coordinate response strategies before returning to Abuja.
Governor Alia also extended his condolences to the bereaved, the displaced, and those who have lost their farmlands. He reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Federal Government to end the persistent violence.
