President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Benue State on Wednesday was marred by both natural disaster and public backlash, as heavy flooding along the Lafia–Makurdi Road stalled movement and left his convoy wading through submerged highways, even as young students were allegedly made to line the roads under the rain to welcome him.
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The visit comes on the heels of growing criticism over Tinubu’s silence following the recent massacre of over 200 people in the Yelewata community of Guma Local Government Area, among others, by suspected herdsmen. His eventual arrival in the mourning state was marked by a controversial show of ceremony, rather than solemnity.
Despite a state-declared public holiday, schoolchildren in Makurdi were reportedly directed to stand along waterlogged roads to wave at the president’s convoy. Videos circulating on social media by Centreal TV and TVC, showed black SUVs driving past as rain-soaked pupils stood by, some splashed with muddy water from passing vehicles.
“This is sickening,” Oduala wrote. “Young students in Makurdi have been asked to stand on the roads to welcome Tinubu in the rain, with cars splashing water on them after the death of 200+ Nigerians in Benue. The problem isn’t just the leaders. It’s also the governed who enable this.”
Flood, Fury, And Forced Smiles: Schoolchildren Made To Stand In Rain To Welcome Tinubu Amid Benue Grief pic.twitter.com/hsPANE496s
— The Nigeria Lawyer (@Nigerialawyers) June 18, 2025
The president’s convoy, as shown in footage by TVC News, was seen navigating through floodwaters, though it was unclear whether Tinubu was personally in the vehicle at the time of recording.
Many Nigerians online and offline have slammed the optics of the visit, calling it a tone-deaf response to a humanitarian crisis. Critics also questioned the Benue State Government’s decision to organize a grand welcome, including mobilizing children, during a time of widespread mourning.
“This man lacks empathy, goodwill, and any true sense of leadership,” wrote one user on X. “And the leaders of Benue State are nothing but sycophants bowing shamelessly even in the face of genocide.”
Concerns were also raised about the safety of the children involved, with citizens warning about health risks from prolonged exposure to cold and wet conditions and the dangers posed by speeding vehicles in flood-affected areas.
“What if an SUV skids off the road? Or one of the children catches pneumonia? But it’s clear the lives of the poor don’t matter in this country,” another critic said.
The public display of children in such conditions has reignited national conversations about leadership accountability, political showmanship, and the value placed on ordinary Nigerian lives, particularly in moments of tragedy.
As of press time, neither the Presidency nor the Benue State Government had officially responded to the backlash.
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