President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to visit Benue State on Wednesday to commiserate with the victims of last Friday’s brutal attack in Yelewata community, which left scores dead and reignited outrage over Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during the inauguration of the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, President Tinubu said he would adjust his official schedule to personally meet with the people of Benue.
“I will adjust my programme and go see the Benue people on Wednesday,” the President said, offering condolences to the families affected by the deadly assault.
In a show of commitment, Tinubu has dispatched top government officials ahead of his visit, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, heads of intelligence agencies, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees. A town hall meeting involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, political stakeholders, youth groups, and security agencies has also been scheduled to deliberate on sustainable solutions to the recurring violence in the state.
Mounting Criticism and National Outrage
The President’s announcement comes after heavy criticism from opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who accused the administration of neglecting the escalating killings in Nigeria’s North-Central region. Both opposition figures called on the government to fulfill its constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.
The recent Yelewata massacre is the latest in a wave of bloody attacks blamed on suspected armed herdsmen, leaving over 160 people dead in Benue in the last few weeks alone. The persistent conflict, often linked to land disputes between farming communities and nomadic cattle herders, has persisted for years without decisive government intervention.
The killings have sparked widespread national condemnation, with Pope Leo XIV describing the atrocities as acts of “extreme cruelty.” Youths in Benue have also staged protests to express anger over the government’s handling of the crisis.
Security Chiefs Ordered to Act
In response to the growing unrest, President Tinubu on Sunday directed security chiefs to urgently implement fresh strategies to restore peace in Benue. On Monday, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in the state alongside top security officials and ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical teams to troubled areas.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, while sympathising with affected communities, pledged to work closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to end the violence and ensure displaced persons return safely to their homes.
Benue Massacre: A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria
Benue State, regarded as Nigeria’s food basket, has suffered relentless bloodshed, with residents demanding immediate government intervention. The renewed attacks have once again highlighted Nigeria’s fragile security architecture and the urgent need for sustainable conflict resolution strategies in the region.
As the nation watches, all eyes will be on President Tinubu’s visit to Benue — a critical test of his leadership in times of national crisis.
