Photo caption: President Bola Tinubu
Key political figures and traditional rulers gathered at the Benue State Government House banquet hall in Makurdi, the state capital and Yelewata, site of last Friday’s killings, as President Bola Tinubu is expected today.
Wednesday’s visit is aimed at meeting with community leaders to address the prolonged communal violence that has claimed over 500 lives in 2025 alone.
Upon his arrival, the President will first proceed to Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area, the epicentre of the latest attack that claimed over 100 lives.
Tinubu is scheduled to meet with families of victims, displaced persons and community leaders directly impacted by the violence.
From Yelewata, the President will visit the hospital where several persons injured from the attack are recuperating.
He will proceed to the Benue State Government House Banquet Hall in Makurdi, where he will preside over a town hall meeting with critical stakeholders.
Expected at the meeting are key national and state-level figures, including governors, particularly from the North Central zone, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Dr Umar Ganduje and other personalities from across political, security and traditional institutions.
Other attendees include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, a former Benue State Governor (1999-2007), Governor Samuel Ortom (2015-2023), members of the APC National Working Committee, and federal lawmakers representing the affected communities in Benue.
Traditional rulers from various ethnic groups within Benue are also seated for the meeting alongside the Executive Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
Also present are the Elders’ Council, members of the Benue State House of Assembly, party executives at the local government level, the Benue State Executive Council and other critical stakeholders from the religious and civil society.
Gunmen stormed Yelewata village in Guma LGA of Benue State late Friday, June 13, unleashing one of the deadliest assaults the state has seen in years.
Amnesty International and local official reports say that at least 100 residents were killed, dozens remain missing, and hundreds are nursing gunshot and burn wounds after attackers set houses ablaze through the early hours of Saturday.
Local Police confirmed the raid but have not issued a final casualty figure, while emergency workers say many victims were internally displaced people who had taken refuge in the village after earlier attacks.
The Benue State government has launched a manhunt, but residents fear more reprisals as the rainy season, peak period for disputed grazing and planting, sets in.
