By Pathfinder Reporter
Wednesday June 18, 2025
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Benue State school children were reportedly lined up in the rain on Wednesday to welcome President Bola Tinubu to the state.
The President arrived in the state to assess the situation a few days after the massacre of about 200 Benue indigenes by the marauding armed Fulani herdsmen.
A viral video on social media showed scores of primary school pupils in uniforms drenched by rainfall, lined up along a roadside in Makurdi as the president’s convoy drove past.
Vehicles were seen splashing water on the children, who appeared soaked and visibly cold.
The visit comes less than a week after suspected terrorists attacked Yelwata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area, killing what locals estimate to be more than 200 people. Amnesty International described the coordinated attack as one of the deadliest in recent years.
In the 10-second clip, a man filming the scene is heard lamenting: “What level of madness is this? People died and you’re doing a campaign? Oh God!”
A letter reportedly signed by Mr. Francis Ngutswen, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Special Groups Mobilisation, invited various pro-Tinubu support groups to prepare for a “colorful reception” in honor of the president. The document instructed attendees to wear uniforms and form a procession to welcome him.
This came just hours after the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reported the letter, questioning the state’s priorities in the aftermath of a bloodbath.
Facing backlash, Mr. Ngutswen publicly denied any role in organizing the welcome parade. He dismissed the claims, despite the existence of the official letter bearing his name, title, and signature.
Meanwhile, a second video shared by News Central showed dozens of young pupils drenched and visibly struggling as passing vehicles splashed water on them. There was no sign of shelter or protection.
The roadside pupils held banners bearing the phrase “Renewed Hope” — the president’s official slogan. For many Nigerians watching the scene unfold online, the optics clashed bitterly with the still-fresh bloodshed in Guma.
Benue has long suffered from recurring violent clashes between armed herders and farming communities. But Friday’s attack, locals say, was a one-sided massacre of defenseless villagers.
The government’s focus on fanfare during a presidential condolence visit has raised difficult questions about leadership, dignity, and respect for the dead.
FTN
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