Tinubu to Adjust Schedule for Condolence Visit to Benue on Wednesday

President Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that he will readjust his official schedule to visit Benue State on Wednesday, in the wake of the recent attack on the Yelewata community that claimed numerous lives.

“I will adjust my programme and go see the Benue people on Wednesday,” Tinubu stated this on Monday during the inauguration of the Greater Abuja Water Supply Network in the Federal Capital Territory.

The President expressed deep sympathy for the victims and families affected by the attack.
He called on the people of Benue to remain united despite their pain, urging them to manage their diversity, frustration, and anger in the spirit of national unity.

During the visit, President Tinubu is expected to engage with a wide range of stakeholders including traditional rulers, political leaders, religious and community figures, and youth organizations in a bid to seek lasting solutions to the recurring violence in the state.

A statement released on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that in preparation for the visit, the President has already deployed key officials to the state.
These include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Defence.

The President is also scheduled to hold a town hall meeting with stakeholders to listen directly to the concerns of residents and to reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to peace and security in the region.

This announcement follows criticism from prominent opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who had faulted President Tinubu for not visiting Benue earlier despite the scale of the killings.
Both leaders accused the government of neglecting its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.

Benue State has been plagued by violent attacks for years, many of which have been attributed to suspected herdsmen. The crisis is often linked to inter-communal conflicts and disputes over land between indigenous farming communities and nomadic cattle herders.
However, the violence has escalated significantly in recent weeks, with over 160 residents reported killed in a spate of coordinated assaults across the state.

Amid growing public outcry and youth-led protests over the killings, President Tinubu on Sunday reiterated his directive to security chiefs to restore peace and stability in the state.

On Monday, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Benue alongside senior police officials. He immediately ordered the deployment of additional tactical teams to the affected areas.
The IGP also met with Governor Hyacinth Alia and other stakeholders before returning to Abuja.

Governor Alia, while sympathising with affected families, condemned the persistent violence and displacement of residents.
He pledged to work closely with the Federal Government to bring an end to the bloodshed and ensure that displaced persons can return to their homes and farmlands.