Backlash as schoolchildren stands in rain to welcome Tinubu’s convoy

A video capturing schoolchildren standing in the rain along a road in Makurdi, Benue State, to welcome President Bola Tinubu’s convoy has gone viral online, with many labeling the act as child abuse.

The footage, shared on X, shows a long line of pupils, dressed in their uniforms, positioned on the roadside as part of a state-organized welcome for the president following recent tragedies in the area. The scene, set against a backdrop of wet pavement and overcast skies, has prompted a fierce debate about the appropriateness of involving children in such events, especially under adverse weather conditions.

The video, a series of raw, unfiltered scenes, begins with a wide shot of the children, their figures blurred to protect their identities, standing in a disciplined line. The narrator’s voice, filled with concern, details the context: “Schoolchildren have been stationed across the state to offer condolences.” The footage captures the moment as the president’s convoy passes, with vehicles speeding by, indifferent to the children’s presence. “Capital, Makurdi, to welcome the president and his entourage,” the narrator adds.