BREAKING: I Will Adjust My Schedule To Visit Benue State Wednesday, Says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said he is scheduled to visit Benue State following a surge in killings across the state.

"I will adjust my programme and go see Benue people on Wednesday,” Tinubu said on Monday when he commissioned the Greater Abuja Water Supply Network in the nation’s capital.

Also, Tinubu's visit was contained in a press statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and released on Monday.

"President Bola Tinubu has rescheduled his official visit to Kaduna State. Instead, he will travel to Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as part of renewed efforts to foster peace and address the persistent conflict affecting communities in the state," the statement read in part.

"The President's visit aims to assess firsthand the recurring crisis that has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction."

It was further stated that "during his stay, President Tinubu will meet with all stakeholders—including traditional rulers, political, religious, community leaders, and youth groups—to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities."

"In preparation for the visit, President Tinubu has already dispatched 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 Defence Committees to Benue State."

The statement also noted that the President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit.

"According to his itinerary released over the weekend, President Tinubu was scheduled to visit Kaduna State on Wednesday to commission various state government projects. However, the official visit will now occur on Thursday, June 19, 2025."

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Tinubu had issued a fresh directive to security chiefs, mandating the immediate implementation of his earlier order aimed at restoring peace and security in Benue State following a wave of brutal attacks that left scores dead.

The presidency, in an earlier statement, said: “President Bola Tinubu has directed security chiefs to implement his earlier directive to bring lasting peace and security to Benue State.”

The renewed directive follows a horrifying overnight assault on the Yelewata community on June 14, where over 100 residents were reportedly killed by armed gunmen.

The massacre has triggered national outrage, with human rights groups decrying the continuous bloodshed in the state.
“President Tinubu renewed his order in the wake of the latest round of reprisal attacks that led to the death of many people.”
“On the president's directive, intelligence chiefs, the police and the military have arrived in the state to direct security operations and restore sanity.”
Condemning the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress,” the president stressed that the violence must not be allowed to continue, while urging swift and impartial action by security agencies.
“The latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough.”
“I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.”

He further called on local political and community leaders to demonstrate restraint and avoid rhetoric capable of escalating the crisis.

“Political and community leaders in Benue State must act responsibly and avoid inflammatory utterances that could further increase tensions and killings.”
In a pointed charge to Governor Hyacinth Alia, President Tinubu emphasized the need for leadership through dialogue and unity.
“This is the time for Governor Alia to act as a statesman and immediately lead the process of dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Benue. Our people must live in peace, and it is possible when leaders across the divides work together in harmony and differences are identified and addressed with fairness, openness and justice.”
He also urged all sides in the conflict to “rein in those who go out to cause provocations and ignite reprisal attacks.”
Amnesty International, in its own strongly-worded statement, said: “The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen that invaded Yelewata from late Friday into the early hours of Saturday shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working.”
The human rights watchdog decried the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, warning that “the Nigerian authorities must immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice.”
SaharaReporters also reported that three security operatives lost their lives in the Yelewata assault, while 16 others were wounded. The incident is part of a grim pattern: just days earlier, on June 10, three youths were ambushed and killed in Edikwu-G’Icho, Apa LGA, and another man, Sunday Dutse, was murdered along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road in Agatu LGA.

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU TO VISIT BENUE OVER CRISIS, SHIFTS SCHEDULED OFFICIAL VISIT TO KADUNA

President Bola Tinubu has rescheduled his official visit to Kaduna State. Instead, he will travel to Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as part of renewed… pic.twitter.com/MNH6MA9PUV

— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) June 16, 2025