President Tinubu Visits Benue, Holds Town Hall Meeting

President Bola Tinubu arrived in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Wednesday, landing at the Nigerian Air Force Base around 12:58 p.m., ahead of his visit to Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area—the site of the recent massacre that left over 100 people dead. In response to the high-profile visit, the Benue State Government declared a public holiday.

Upon arrival, the President visited victims receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where he also met with some displaced persons affected by the violence. He then travelled to Yelewata to assess the damage and offer condolences to grieving families, following what Amnesty International described as one of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years.

From the hospital, Tinubu proceeded to the new Banquet Hall at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, where he chaired a stakeholder meeting aimed at addressing the recurring communal violence across rural communities in the state.

Present at the town hall were key figures including Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, other North-Central governors, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, and former Governor Samuel Ortom.

Also in attendance were traditional rulers, federal lawmakers, and local leaders. The engagement formed part of a broader national effort to craft sustainable solutions to the security crisis that has already claimed more than 500 lives in Benue State this year alone.