Benue government declares public holiday ahead of Tinubu’s visit
The Benue State Government has declared Wednesday, June 18, 2025, a public holiday to mark the official visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state.
The public holiday, announced via an official memo and signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Serumun Deborah Amber, is intended to honour the president during his one-day visit to the state.
“The Benue State Government has declared Wednesday 18th June 2025 as Public Holiday. This is in honour of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR, who is scheduled for a one-day visit to the state to commiserate with the government and people over incessant security crises,” the statement read.
The memo, however, clarified that essential service workers — including health personnel, security agencies, and banks — are exempt from the holiday.
“Benue residents are urged to come out en masse to receive the President and his entourage to the State, on this Presidential Commiseration Visit,” it added.
Meanwhile, the military and the police have launched a joint, cross-border manhunt for the gunmen who killed around 200 villagers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, on the night of Friday, June 13, 2025.
Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun arrived in Makurdi and Yelewata on Monday 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.
The Defence Chief briefed journalists in Yelewata, saying, “In every society, including the military, there are always people who compromise. I promise to meet with the commanders and find ways to change our strategies.
“In my estimation, it is one killing too many. We’re here to ensure that we address such. From here, I’m going to see my commanders, and we are going to change our strategies to look inwards and see how we can address this. We cannot do it alone without the community.”
