By Dan Zendesha 

The Benue State Government, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Sam Ode, formally received Deeper Life Church General Superintendent William Folorunso Kumuyi in Makurdi on June 30, 2026, ahead of a global crusade scheduled to hold across the state. Both officials framed the event around spiritual renewal, peace and moral development.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Sam Ode, received Pastor Kumuyi at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi. The crusade is planned to extend to Gboko and Otukpo, with organizers stating it will be broadcast to roughly 180 countries. Kumuyi indicated he postponed an earlier visit so the state could mark its Golden Jubilee, and pledged a second visit to Makurdi before year's end.

This is a government-hosted reception of a religious leader, framed by the administration as consistent with its development agenda. The claim about Benue's Golden Jubilee and an earlier postponed visit provides context for timing but is not independently verified in this report.

Benue State Government (Governor Alia's administration), Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, security agencies, and Benue residents in Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo.

The crusade is expected to draw large public gatherings in three Benue towns, with implications for traffic, security deployment and local commerce. The government linked the event to broader peacebuilding goals in a state that has faced security and displacement challenges.

Direct quotes and framing in this report are attributed solely to the official Government House press statement; no independent confirmation, interviews, or supporting documents have yet been obtained.

Benue State has experienced recurring security and displacement concerns in recent years, which is the likely backdrop for official emphasis on "peace" and "stability" in this statement.