The Senior Special Assistant on Special Groups Mobilisation to the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, Francis Ngutswen, has denied mobilising members of support groups to give President Bola Tinubu a “rousing welcome.”
A statement dated June 16, 2025, bearing Ngutswen’s signature, which was obtained by The Guardian on Tuesday, indicated that the governor’s aide had called on support groups to stage a colourful procession to welcome President Tinubu from the airport to the Benue State Government House in Makurdi.
“I am pleased to notify you at the instance of our dear Governor, His Excellency, Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Leader of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State, to mobilize massively to give a rousing welcome to our President.
The Support Groups Constituency is required to form a colourful shoulder-to-shoulder spread/procession from Airport to Wukurum Roundabout and down to Government House Makurdi, where the President will address a town-hall meeting,” the statement read in part.
This circular comes a day after Tinubu announced he will visit Benue on Wednesday. Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Benue follows a raid on Yelewata, a Benue State community, by assailants suspected to be herdsmen.
Over 200 lives were claimed in the attack, throwing the entire country into mourning and prompting Nigerians to call for an end to the persistent Benue killings, which have lingered for over a decade.
The circular has stirred criticism from Nigerians on X, who are berating Alia and Ngutswen for mobilising support groups to welcome the President when the victims of the massacre are recounting their losses.
Many Nigerians have accused the duo of displaying insensitivity toward the struggles of residents in the face of the looming crisis.
“This is how to know an unserious government. The President is coming to visit and you are sending this letter to support groups to wear uniform after the killing of over 200 people. You are planning a welcome parade for the President with dancing and uniform,” one X user wrote.
“I’m not surprised if the IGP, the chief law enforcement officer, could organise a rural gathering in the midst of a crisis. What do you expect from a man who is commanding them? To them it’s politics as usual and an opportunity to campaign for 2027,” another post on X read.
To confirm if the phone number on the circular belongs to Ngutswen, The Guardian checked the number on Truecaller, a mobile application that helps users identify unknown callers.
The mobile application revealed that the phone number is registered as Francis Ngutswen Alia.
The Guardian’s correspondent called him on Tuesday afternoon for comments, and Ngutswen denied releasing the circular.
THE GUARDIAN
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