President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rescheduled his official visit to Kaduna State and will instead travel to Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, following a renewed wave of violence that has claimed over 200 lives across several communities.
In a statement released on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the visit is intended to foster peace and provide direct presidential intervention in the unfolding crisis.
“President Tinubu will assess firsthand the recurring crisis that has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction,” the statement read.
During his visit, Tinubu is expected to host a town hall meeting involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, politicians, community heads, and youth groups to engage in open dialogue and chart a path toward lasting peace.
Ahead of the trip, the president dispatched a high-level federal delegation to the state. The delegation includes the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Inspector General of Police, intelligence chiefs, the National Security Adviser, and leaders of the National Assembly’s Defence Committees.
“The President is committed to ending this cycle of violence and will personally interface with those most affected,” Onanuga added.
President Tinubu was initially scheduled to commission projects in Kaduna on the same day but has now postponed that trip to Thursday, June 19, prioritizing the worsening situation in Benue.
This move comes just days after Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, criticized the President for failing to visit crisis-ridden states like Benue and Niger, despite persistent bloodshed.
The presidency reiterated Tinubu’s previous condemnation of the attacks and his call for peace, mutual understanding, and unity among all Nigerians. He also extended condolences to the victims’ families and those displaced by the recent attacks.
Observers see the visit as a critical gesture of concern from the federal government and a signal of a more hands-on approach to Nigeria’s deepening security challenges.