- Safiu Kehinde
Sequel to the murder of over 200 people by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen during the weekend, President Bola Tinubu has announced plan to visit Benue State.
NPO Reported that the assailants had in the early hours of Saturday stormed Yelewata town at Guma Local Government Area of the state with several residents locked in their houses and burnt alive.
Tinubu who had earlier condemned the attack announced the rescheduling his official visit to Kaduna State in order to travel to Benue on Wednesday.
He made the announcement while speaking during a project commissioning in Abuja on Monday.
Expressing his condolences with the victims of the incident and people of Benue state, the President urged them to maintain peace and harmony as he dislcosed the adjustment in his plan in order to visit the state on Wednesday.
“While I sympathise with the Benue people, I’ve spoken with the Governor. The leadership and people of Benue should accept our condolences and try hard, very consciously to maintain peace and harmony amongst themselves.
“I have always said this that we are one single family living in the same house, staying in different rooms, but living together in harmony.
“We should be able to manage our anger and frustrations. I sympathised with those who have lost their lives.
“I will adjust my programme and go see Benue people on Wednesday.”
The President’s rescheduled visit was also confirmed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, the visitation is part of Tinubu’s renewed efforts to foster peace and address the persistent conflict affecting communities in the state.
The President’s visit is reportedly aimed to assess firsthand the recurring crisis that has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction.
In the course of his stay, Tinubu is billed to meet with all stakeholders-including traditional rulers, political, religious, community leaders, and youth groups-to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities.
Onanuga disclosed that the President has already dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and heads of intelligence agencies as well as the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State ahead of his visit.