Schoolchildren were on Wednesday lined up in the rain along the walkway of a road in Makurdi, Benue State, to welcome President Bola Tinubu and his entourage as their vehicles drove past.

This is despite Governor Hyacinth Alia’s declaration of today as a public holiday to thank Mr Tinubu for visiting to pay condolences to the families of over 200 people killed on Saturday, by armed bandits in Yelewata and Dauda communities of Guma Local Government Areas.

In a viral video, pupils of two different schools were seen stationed by the roadside singing and drumming to the re-introduced national anthem and other songs.

Another viral video showed Mr Tinubu’s convoy wading through the flooded Makurdi–Lafia Road. It was yet clear if Mr Tinubu was in the convoy.

Mr Tinubu’s arrival was in fulfilment of his promise on Monday, to reschedule his inauguration of projects in Kaduna State for a visit to Benue, thereby yielding to public outcry against his silence 24 hours after the killing of 200 residents of Benue State. .

The president, during the visit, will hold a town hall meeting with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political, religious, community leaders, and youth groups, to seek lasting solutions to the attacks.