Thousands of women and youths on Wednesday staged a massive protest in Ugbokpo, headquarters of Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, over the escalating killings allegedly perpetrated by suspected armed herders in Apa and neighbouring Agatu LGA.
The demonstration was triggered by recent attacks on Edikwu-Ankpali, Ikobi and Adija communities in Apa, as well as Atakpa in Agatu, which reportedly claimed at least 16 lives between last Friday and Tuesday.
The protesters marched through major streets of Ugbokpo before barricading the busy Otukpo–Oweto–Abuja Federal Highway, causing a prolonged traffic gridlock and leaving commuters stranded for hours.
Wielding placards bearing messages such as “Statements are not enough, we need action now,” “The Governor must visit Apa-Agatu,” and “Lives are being lost, secure Apa-Agatu now,” the demonstrators called for immediate and decisive government intervention to end the violence.
One of the protest leaders, Ochofie Odebugu, criticised what he described as the silence of both state and federal authorities despite repeated attacks on communities in the area.
He appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia to visit the affected LGAs to assess the situation firsthand and engage directly with residents.
Odebugu also urged authorities to strengthen security presence by establishing outposts in vulnerable communities and enhancing collaboration between local vigilante groups and security agencies for swift response to threats.
Another protest leader, Igbe Bawa, expressed concern over the growing number of displaced residents, noting that many had fled their homes due to the persistent violence.
He warned that the protests would continue until concrete measures are taken, including the safe return of displaced persons, restoration of normal economic activities, and reconstruction of affected communities.
The protesters further demanded regular updates from the government on efforts to address the crisis, stressing that transparency and visible action are essential to rebuilding public trust.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, for comments were unsuccessful.
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