Benue women block Abuja highway in desperate plea to end killings

Benue State women and youths numbering hundreds on Friday reportedly mounted blockade on Makurdi-Lafia-Abuja highway as they protested the fresh killing of five people in two villages in the Guma Local Government Area of the state by armed men suspected to be herders.

The blockage of the highway by the protesters made it difficult for travellers to gain entry into or exit Makurdi, the Benue State capital as this led to heavy traffic.

The protest followed the killing of five people in separate attacks by the armed men suspected to be herders, who were said to have besieged the sleepy rural communities of Ngban where they killed three people Thursday night and another two at Nyian on Friday morning.

Residents of the affected villages lamented that Ngban, which hosts some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) experienced a similar attack earlier this year when over 30 people, including IDPs were hacked to death.

The Guma LGA Security Adviser, Christopher Waku, who confirmed the killing of the five persons said, “Our women have trooped out to the Makurdi-Abuja federal highway since 5 am today (Friday) as you can hear from background of the telephone conversation. Right now, they are singing emotional songs and no vehicle coming from either Abuja or Makurdi can pass through to either side.

The women are protesting the murder of five people killed yesterday (Thursday) night and this morning (Friday).

Three people were killed at Ngban yesterday night and two people killed at Nyian this morning. The women have said that they are not going to leave the road until the governor comes and talk to them. I’m right now on the road where the women are protesting waiting for Governor Hyacinth Alia.”