Eric Patrick
Women in their numbers from the North Bank area of Makurdi, Benue State, staged a protest on Friday to express outrage over ongoing killings by suspected herdsmen and what they described as indiscriminate arrests of residents in their community.
The protesters, armed with leaves and chanting solidarity songs, barricaded the busy federal highway near the Agan toll gate, bringing traffic to a standstill and drawing attention to their demands for urgent government intervention.
The protesters decried the continued loss of lives and property in their communities.
Speaking to journalists in a video currently trending on social media, and was seen by First News correspondent, the angry women also accused security operatives of targeting innocent civilians in recent raids instead of focusing on the armed attackers terrorising parts of Benue state.
“We are tired of the killings and harassment. Instead of protecting us, security agents are arresting our husbands and children while the real killers roam free,” one of the protesters shouted.
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The women called on the Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, and federal authorities to take immediate action to halt the violence and ensure justice for victims.
Residents of North Bank, Makurdi, have in recent months repeatedly raised the alarm over escalating insecurity and violent attacks attributed to suspected Fulani herders, leaving many displaced and deepening fear across affected communities.
Over 200 people were confirmed to have been killed in an attack by gunmen on the Yelewata community in the Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria, on June 13.
Reports indicated that, the terrorists initially targeted the Yelewata mission site, which shelters over 400 internally displaced persons (IDPs), at approximately 10 pm on June 13, but were repelled by military personnel.