Some youths on Wednesday protested against attempts by supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to repurpose President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to Benue State into a campaign or political rally.

Mr Tinubu’s visit followed increased public outrage over the federal government’s perceived inept handling of widespread insecurity.

Reportedly, over two hundred persons in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, Benue, were killed by suspected herdsmen, with more than forty-five others gruesomely murdered in another community two days earlier.

Videos making the rounds on social media showed several APC flags being seized and shredded, as party loyalists conveyed in vehicles moved in tow following Mr Tinubu’s visit to the grieving state.

An individual in one of the footages repeatedly chanted, “No flags, no flags. Collect all the flags,” while other youths checked for defaulters.

Earlier, banners and billboards thanking Mr Tinubu for the condolence visit—and declaring support for his second term with inscriptions such as “4+4 = 8”—flooded Makurdi, the state capital.

The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia’s administration,  had also, in a memo dated Tuesday, June 17, instructed mourning residents of the state to warmly receive the visiting president with a colourful and “rousing welcome.”

The instruction has since drawn public outrage over the state governor’s action, which many believe prioritised praise-singing over empathy for the hundreds of lives and properties lost in the repeated killings.