President Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid a condolence visit to Benue State on Wednesday following the deadly June 13 attacks in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 people were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen.
The visit, intended as a gesture of national mourning and a step toward resolving Benue’s protracted insecurity crisis, quickly became controversial amid reports that schoolchildren were allegedly forced to line the streets under the rain to welcome the President.
Tinubu Confronts Security Chiefs: “Why No Arrests?”
In a tense moment during a meeting with security stakeholders in Makurdi, Tinubu openly confronted the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, asking the pointed question: “How come no arrests have been made?”
Egbetokun, lacking a microphone, mumbled an inaudible response, leaving the question hanging—echoing a sentiment widely shared across the state and country.
Addressing the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other service and intelligence chiefs, the President said:
“Christopher, you have given much. I follow your comments. You can’t be tired of staying in the bush. We appreciate your efforts, but we must do more. Let’s get the criminals. DG NIA, DG SSS—retool your intelligence channels so this doesn’t happen again.”
Backlash Over Mobilization of Schoolchildren
Despite the solemn nature of the visit, controversy erupted after viral videos and eyewitness accounts showed schoolchildren and political supporters drenched by rainfall as they lined the roads, waving placards bearing pro-Tinubu and pro-Governor Hyacinth Alia slogans—some of which resembled campaign messages.
Though a public holiday was declared for the visit, critics say children from public schools were coerced into the display. One parent, Ogwuche Anderson Paul, posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“This is nonsense. If my child were there, I would go pick them up.”
Public outrage deepened after an alleged directive surfaced online from Francis U. Ngutswen, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Groups Mobilization. The memo instructed support groups to stage a “colourful shoulder-to-shoulder procession” from the airport to Government House in honour of the President.
The incident has drawn criticism from civil society groups and citizens alike, who decried the politicization of a tragedy and the endangerment of minors.
As of press time, neither the Benue State Government nor the Presidency had issued an official response to the controversy.
President Pledges Peace, Calls for Unity
At a town hall meeting with victims’ families and local stakeholders, Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to ending violence in Benue and across Nigeria:
“We will not allow the enemies of peace to prevail. We must listen to our people and respond with actionable intelligence. Together, we will bring prosperity back to Benue.”
He urged Governor Alia to continue working hard to restore peace, stating:
“All politics is local. Not everyone will like you. Some did the same to me, but I’m the President now. The yolk is on you—leadership carries responsibility.”
Tinubu also appealed to Benue residents to support their governor, calling for collective action toward reconciliation and peacebuilding.
Peace Committee to Be Constituted
In a significant policy move, Tinubu directed the governments of Benue and neighboring Nasarawa State to establish a peace resolution committee. The committee will comprise key stakeholders, including traditional leaders such as the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, Och’Idoma Elaigwu Odogbo, and retired General Atom Kpera.
“Let us meet and design a lasting solution. I’m ready to invest in this peace project. We are here not to bury, but to govern. Let us convert this tragedy into economic prosperity,” Tinubu said.
Benue Renews Call for State Police, Special Intervention Fund
Governor Hyacinth Alia reiterated the state’s longstanding appeal for the establishment of state police as a sustainable response to the enduring insecurity in Benue.
“This looks like a calculated attempt to annihilate our people and take over ancestral lands,” Alia stated, calling on the Federal Government to create a special intervention fund for displaced communities and to assist in restoring agricultural livelihoods.
The governor expressed gratitude for Tinubu’s presence, calling it a “true demonstration of leadership,” and prayed for the souls of those lost in the attacks.
