President Bola Tinubu will travel to Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, to personally intervene in the escalating communal crisis that has claimed dozens of lives in recent attacks, his media aide announced Monday.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that the urgent Benue visit has forced a postponement of Tinubu’s previously scheduled official trip to Kaduna State.
“President Tinubu has rescheduled his planned official visit to Kaduna State to prioritize addressing the persistent conflict affecting communities in Benue State,” Onanuga said in a statement released Monday evening.
The presidential intervention comes amid conflicting casualty figures from the latest round of violence. While reports suggest at least 200 people were killed in recent attacks, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has put the death toll at 59.
During his Benue visit, the President is expected to convene a comprehensive stakeholder meeting that will bring together traditional rulers, political leaders, religious figures, community representatives, and youth groups in search of lasting solutions to the recurring hostilities.
“The President’s visit aims to assess firsthand the recurring crisis that has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction,” Onanuga explained, emphasizing Tinubu’s commitment to finding sustainable peace in the troubled region.
In preparation for the high-stakes visit, the President has already deployed a high-level advance team to Benue State. The delegation includes the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of various intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of both the Senate and House Defence Committees.
The centerpiece of the presidential visit will be a town hall meeting designed to facilitate direct dialogue between the federal government and all affected stakeholders in the crisis.
“President Tinubu has previously condemned the ongoing violence in Benue State and called on all leaders and residents to embrace peace, love, and mutual understanding. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to all those who have suffered losses as a result of the crisis,” the presidential spokesperson noted.
The Kaduna State visit, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday to commission various state government projects, has been moved to Thursday, June 19, 2025, according to the revised presidential itinerary released over the weekend.
The Benue crisis represents one of the most persistent security challenges facing the Tinubu administration, with recurring clashes between farmers and herders, as well as other communal tensions, continuing to destabilize parts of the Middle Belt state.
Local authorities and security agencies have struggled to contain the violence, which has displaced thousands of residents and severely disrupted agricultural activities in what is traditionally known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket.”
The President’s direct intervention signals the federal government’s recognition of the crisis’s complexity and the urgent need for a comprehensive approach that addresses both immediate security concerns and underlying causes of the conflict.
