Following criticisms, President to visit Benue, Yobe, Rivers, Taraba

President Muhammadu Buhari will visit the States of Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Rivers and Zamfara in the next couple of days, after Nigerians took him to task for not physically visiting crises areas where terrorists and gunmen have been running amok.

Buhari was in Kano for a grand wedding party last weekend, just hours after terrorists sacked a military base in Borno, killing aid workers and soldiers; and sending Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scampering for safety.

“In view criminal activities and communal clashes in some States leading to tragic loss of lives and kidnapping of 110 schoolgirls, President Buhari immediately tasked the Armed Forces and other Security agencies to compile comprehensive reports”, the presidency announced in a statement on Monday, March 5, 2018.

Reports

According to the presidency, security reports have now given the president the all clear to fly.

“Having received and studied the reports, the President has decided to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the various occurrences and to meet and console the communities affected. From today, March 5, he will visit Taraba, and subsequently Benue, Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers States.

“President Buhari has been receiving daily briefings, and has been in constant touch with the Governors, and has been updated with situation reports.

“The President calls on all Nigerians especially those in the affected areas to cooperate fully with the security agencies to enable them curb the spate of crimes, bring those responsible to justice and prevent further occurrences”.

On New Years’ Day, cultists gunned down over 22 residents of Rivers.

A spate of killings across Benue, Taraba and Zamfara since the turn of the year, have also been blamed on marauding herdsmen.

In Yobe, terrorists kidnapped 110 schoolgirls of Dapchi--an abduction reminiscent of the Chibok saga. It's been 15 days since the kidnap.