Tinubu Postpones Kaduna Trip, Heads to Benue Amid Mounting Criticism Over Silence on Killings
Tinubu Postpones Kaduna Trip, Heads to Benue Amid Mounting Criticism Over Silence on Killings
By Matthew Eloyi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his scheduled official visit to Kaduna State and will now travel to Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in response to growing pressure over his administration’s handling of the recurring violence that has devastated several communities in the state.
The change in itinerary, announced in a statement issued Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, comes amid mounting public outcry over the President’s prolonged silence on the crisis, which has claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks. Critics have also described his eventual statement on Sunday night as vague and lacking in urgency.
While the Presidency said the visit aims to “foster peace and address the persistent conflict,” many observers view the sudden shift as a belated response to intense criticism from civil society groups, affected communities, and political commentators who had condemned the federal government’s apparent inaction.
President Tinubu is expected to hold a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, political and religious leaders, community heads, and youth groups in an effort to seek lasting solutions to the crisis.
Read Also: Benue Is Bleeding, And All We Got Was a Blame-Shifting Statement
In a bid to show commitment, the President has already dispatched top government officials to Benue ahead of his arrival. These include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees.
Although the President has previously condemned the violence and called for peace and mutual understanding, critics argue that words alone are no longer enough and that tangible action must follow.
Originally slated to visit Kaduna on Wednesday to commission various state projects, Tinubu will now undertake that trip on Thursday, June 19, according to the updated itinerary.
Whether his visit to Benue will calm rising tensions or further expose gaps in the federal response remains to be seen. But for many, it is clear that the time for presidential platitudes is over—the communities ravaged by conflict are demanding results.
