The Benue State Government has declared Wednesday, June 18, 2025, a public holiday in honour of the scheduled visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state.

This announcement was contained in an official circular signed by the Secretary to the State Government, DCNS. Serumun Deborah Aber, dated June 17, 2025.

According to the notice, the President, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will be in the state on a one-day visit to commiserate with the government and people of Benue over the recent deadly attacks that have left the state in mourning.

The circular reads in part:

“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 of the State over incessant security crises.”

However, the government clarified that essential service providers—including health workers, security agencies, and banks—are exempt from the holiday and expected to continue their operations uninterrupted.

Residents of the state have been urged to come out en masse to welcome the President and his entourage during the presidential commiseration visit.

This visit comes on the heels of a horrific attack that occurred between June 13 and 14, 2025, in which suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly invaded a community in Benue State and brutally massacred over 300 people, including women, children, and the elderly.

The scale of the destruction and the tragic loss of life has thrown the state into deep mourning and renewed calls for urgent action against incessant security threats.

President Tinubu’s visit is expected to include meetings with state officials, traditional leaders, and victims of the attacks or their relatives, as he assesses the situation firsthand and possibly outlines the Federal Government’s plans for security intervention and humanitarian support.

As anticipation builds, security has been heightened across key areas in the state capital, Makurdi, and surrounding communities expected to be part of the President’s itinerary.