Youths in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, staged a massive protest on Sunday over the escalating wave of killings by suspected armed herdsmen across the state, particularly in Guma Local Government Area.
Defying heavy security presence, hundreds of young people, most dressed in black and carrying palm fronds and placards, converged at the Wurukum Roundabout in a show of anger and grief. They barricaded major roads, grounding vehicular movement and disrupting normal activities in the city.
The protest follows Saturday’s deadly attacks on Yelwata and Daudu towns in Guma, where armed herders reportedly killed over 200 people, including security operatives. The protesters called for immediate action from both the state and federal governments to end the persistent bloodshed in the region.
Our correspondent observed that the atmosphere was tense as demonstrators chanted solidarity songs and demanded justice for the slain victims. Placards bore messages such as “Enough is Enough,” “Stop the Killings,” and “Benue Lives Matter.”
The situation intensified when the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi, arrived at the protest ground in an attempt to address the demonstrators. His presence, however, was not welcomed. Angry youths booed and shouted him down, insisting that he should be in Yelwata — the site of the massacre — instead of delivering speeches in the state capital.
“Go to Yelewata! That’s where the killings happened! Not here!” some protesters yelled.
The commissioner was eventually forced to leave the scene. Shortly afterward, police operatives reportedly began firing teargas canisters into the crowd, triggering panic and chaos. Several protesters were injured in the ensuing stampede.
Sunday’s protest highlights the growing frustration among Benue residents over the government’s handling of security, particularly in rural communities frequently targeted by suspected herdsmen.
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