The Traffic

By Kunle Oyatomi 

Tinubu's traducers and Benue's visit

President Bola Tinubu’s visit to sympathise with victims of the 
recent killings in Benue State has sparked mixed reactions across the country.
While some have described the move as theatrical and unbefitting of a leader, others have praised Tinubu, saying he is showing genuine concern for Nigerians’ plight unlike his predecessors.
Although those in the latter group cannot be faulted for their position, the former have shown disdain for nearly every action of the President, including positive steps like the Benue visit. They shall, therefore, be presented with uncoated facts.

What are the facts?

On the night of Friday, June 13, 2025, around 200 villagers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, were murdered in cold blood by unidentified armed assailants suspected to be herders.
In response, on Monday 16, 2025, Chief of Defence Staff General, Christopher Musa, and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Makurdi and Yelewata to coordinate the operation that would target the suspected killers.
Musa, after assessing the carnage, vowed to take the battle to the terrorists by changing the military’s strategy to fit the situation on the ground.

However, given the manner of the attack, he expressed concerns that the attackers are operating with help from within the community.
While speaking to residents to join hands with them in combating what has now become a reign of terror in Benue, Musa said: ““I want to assure Nigerians, the whole Benue State, and all over the country, that we are determined, based on the mandate of Mr President, that we will restore peace and tranquillity within the country.” Egbetokun and Musa were both emissaries of the President, dispatched as part of the Federal Government’s response to the tragedy.

On Monday, June 16, 2025, while inaugurating the Greater Abuja Water Supply Network in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Tinubu also said: “I will adjust my programme and go see Benue people on Wednesday.”
True to his word, on Wednesday, June 19, 2025, Tinubu landed in Benue, much to the chagrin of his enemies. Given that the President, by his visit, sent a message that he would not be distant in times of national sorrow, opposition began playing new songs, saying: “The president arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy. We have tragically arrived at a point where condolence visits have become carnivals.”

But one must ask: Will the President ever satisfy them? When did attire begin to define the national mood?" Wasn't it Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist, Bernard Shaw, who said: “Clothes don't make the man?”

At a time Nigerians, particularly the Benue people, needed a President to share in their sorrow, he was there. In fact, he went as far as directing security agencies to arrest the killers in Benue, while also advising Governor Hyacinth Alia to set up a peace committee.
Not only did he take such an excellent step in a bid to transform things in the crisis stricken state, he also assembled top military officials, ex-governors to end the carnage in the North-Central geopolitical zone.

What more do they want?

Also, in his directive while addressing stakeholders at the Government House, Markudi, Tinubu explicitly told the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to immediately arrest the killers who perpetrated the heinous killing in Yelewata community.

At the meeting were the Secretary to the Federal Government, George Akume, traditional rulers and former governors of the state.
The governors of Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo and Nasarawa states also attended the meeting.
President Tinubu called out Egbetokun to know why arrests have not been made.
"How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelewata. Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately," Tinubu said.

He urged the heads of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, to intensify surveillance and gather actionable intelligence to apprehend the perpetrators.
He told the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, of the need for vigilance and collaboration between communities and security forces.
Advising Governor Alia on the importance of stakeholder management for peaceful and progressive governance, the President urged the governor to set up a peace committee in the state that will include former governors of Benue, elders, traditional rulers, federal government officials, and non-indigenes living in the state.

"Let us meet again in Abuja. Let's fashion out a framework for lasting peace. I am ready to invest in that peace. I assure you, we will find peace. We will convert this tragedy into prosperity," he said.
Tinubu urged Alia to allocate land for ranching and directed the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to follow up.

He called for blood donations to support the injured receiving treatment at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, where he had earlier visited victims and medical staff.
"I wanted to come here to commission projects, to reassure you of hope and prosperity, not to see gloomy faces. But peace is vital to development. The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people.

“Governor Alia, you were elected under the progressive banner to ensure peace, stability, and progress. You are not elected to bury people or comfort widows and orphans. We will work with you to achieve that peace. You must also work with us.

"Not everyone will like you in politics. They hate me, too—like hell. But here I am, still your President. I made a promise to protect democracy, freedom, and prosperity, even for my abusers and accusers. That's leadership.”
While the President has taken decisive steps to address the tragedy, critics will continue to lament. Yet, this will not deter him from reaching out to Nigerians whom he deeply loves, and who, in return, stand by him in times of national crisis.

Oyatomi Esq. is a member of the Board of Independent Media and Policy initiative (IMPI) a think tank, based in Abuja .