- President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Benue state
- The president who arrived Makurdi, the state capital will head to the Government House
- As part of measures to boost security, armed security personnel were seen at strategic areas
Ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Benue state on Monday, March 12, security has been beefed up, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The president arrived at the Makurdi Airport at exactly 10:43 am. He will head to the Government House, where the stakeholders are already waiting to meet with him.
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President Buhari was earlier scheduled to visit the Tor-Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, the Exercise Cat Race Camp and also meet IDPs in Gbajimba, Guma LGA headquarters but will unfortunately not be able to make other visits asides the meeting with stakeholders.
Armed security personnel were seen deployed to strategic areas in Makurdi while others were seen patrolling streets in armoured tanks and vehicles as part of measures to boost security in the state.
NAN also reports that patrol officers with sniffer dogs were also sighted along busy streets and highways in the state capital while a military helicopter was sighted conducting aerial surveillance. Similarly, siren-blaring police patrol vans conveying armed security personnel decked in bullet prove vestments were seen patrolling the streets.
Buhari is expected in Benue to condole with the people of the state over the deaths of local farmers killed by suspected herdsmen on January 1 in Guma and Logo local government areas.
Scores of other villagers were also reported to have been killed at Okpokwu, Logo and villages in Guma since the January 1 massacre.
Part of the president’s itinerary as released by the Benue Government included a courtesy call on the fifth Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, at his Makurdi residence.
According to the release, the president will have an interactive session with selected Benue indigenes and visit the IDP camp via helicopter.
The commissioner of police in the state, Fatayi Owoseni, and the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu, were yet to respond to phone calls put to them by NAN as they were said to be working to firm up the security arrangements.
However, a cross section of Makurdi residents commended security agencies for the tight security measures put in place.
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The resident hoped that the visit would tackle the mounting security and development challenges of the state.
NAIJ.com previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari and the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, met inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This is the first time the two leaders will meet since the recent killings recorded in the north cent.
Southern Kaduna killings: part 1 - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng