Banners reading “Mr President, thank you for your condolences” have appeared across Benue State ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s planned visit, drawing sharp criticism and confusion from residents.
Many locals and social media users have expressed outrage, questioning why public gratitude is being shown while the state continues to suffer from deadly attacks and widespread insecurity.
One resident was overheard asking, “What level of madness is this?”—a remark that reflects the deep frustration felt across communities still grieving recent massacres.
President Tinubu is scheduled to visit Benue to sympathize with victims of violence and hold talks with state leaders. However, the sudden emergence of the banners has struck many as either premature or insensitive, given the scale of ongoing tragedies in the state.