The streets of Benue State were practically empty on Monday as President Muhammadu Buhari came to condole with the people over killings by herdsmen and reassure them that his administration shared in their grief.
Those who came out did so with banners condemning the government’s dismal handling of the crisis.
Buhari met with leaders of thought, traditional rulers, stakeholders and government officials at the Peoples House, the Government House, before returning to Abuja.
As the meeting held, family members of some of those killed in the New Year’s Day attacks in which 73 people died staged a peaceful protest in front of the venue.
The protesters, numbering about 50, carried placards, lamenting the killings and seeking an end to such savagery. Besides, they sought compensation for the families of the deceased.
Security agents barred the protesters from going into the Government House. They were restricted to the Government House Roundabout where they held up their placards, singing mournful songs and calling attention. They were decked in black apparels.
Some of the placards read: “End the killings or resign” and “Buhari, every Benue youth is a Yusuf”. Yusuf is Buhari’s son who had an accident while riding a power bike and was flown overseas for treatment.
Some of the placards carried photos of those killed.
There was no crowd to receive the President in Makurdi, unlike when he visited the state to campaign in 2015.
There was no public holiday. Markets and schools were not closed; pupils did not line the streets and no banners welcome him to the state, except the one hoisted by Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai.
Most people went about their businesses, showing no interest in the presidential visit. Security agents took over empty streets.
Armed security personnel were deployed in strategic areas in Makurdi. Others were patrolling streets in armoured tanks and vehicles.
Siren-blaring police patrol vans conveying security personnel in bulletproof vestments were patrolling the streets.
Contrary to the itinerary released before the visit, the President did not go to Tor Tiv James Ayatse’s Makurdi residence. He also did not go to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.
