A wave of anger and frustration swept through Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Sunday as hundreds of youths took to the streets to protest the worsening insecurity and incessant killings ravaging various parts of the state.
Despite heightened security surveillance in the city, the protesters, mostly young men and women, converged on the popular Wurukum area in a bold and defiant demonstration against the escalating violence.
They blocked major roads, including one of the busiest routes in the metropolis, bringing vehicular movement to a halt and causing widespread panic among commuters and residents alike.
Chanting slogans and carrying placards, the youths demanded urgent government intervention to halt the bloodshed that has become a grim reality for many communities in the state. “Enough is enough!” and “Stop the killings!” echoed through the air as demonstrators decried the failure of authorities to protect lives and property.
Their protest follows a series of deadly attacks by suspected armed herdsmen, particularly in Guma, Gwer West, Apa, and other local government areas.
The most recent and devastating of these assaults occurred on Saturday when heavily armed attackers descended on the towns of Yelwata and Daudu in Guma LGA, unleashing an orgy of violence that left hundreds dead, including members of the security forces.
A staff member of the Guma Local Government Council, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, gave a chilling account of the massacre.
“What happened is nothing short of a coordinated ethnic cleansing,” he said. “Over 100 bodies have so far been recovered. Many of them were burnt beyond recognition, while others were hacked to death with machetes.”
According to him, many of the victims were internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had been living in makeshift shelters and roadside stalls, having previously fled earlier attacks.
“The attackers doused the shelters with petrol while the IDPs were asleep and set them ablaze. Others were butchered in their homes. Entire families—some with 10 to 15 members—have been wiped out in a single night.”
He further revealed that over 40 injured persons were rushed to nearby hospitals, but tragically, at least 20 of them died before receiving treatment. “The real number of casualties may exceed 200,” he lamented.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, residents are calling for both state and federal governments to step up and take decisive action to prevent further bloodshed. With fear, grief, and anger spreading across Benue, the people are demanding not just answers—but justice and protection.
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