Benue Erupts in Anger as Protesters Shut Down Makurdi–Abuja Highway Over Deadly Herdsmen Attack

 

PICTURE OF ANGRY PROTESTERS

‎Catholic church minister, farmer, and his son killed; residents demand urgent security intervention

‎Tension has gripped Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State as hundreds of angry residents stormed the streets on Saturday, blocking the busy Makurdi–Abuja highway in protest against a fresh attack by suspected armed herdsmen that left several people dead and others missing.

‎The demonstration, which erupted at the Garba–Atson–Abagena IDP camp axis of the highway, brought vehicular movement to a standstill for hours, leaving commuters stranded. Protesters carried placards, tree branches, and chanted solidarity songs, vowing not to vacate the road until justice was served and lasting measures taken to secure their communities.

‎The violent attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, September 20, targeted the outskirts of Achakpa community along the North Bank–Lafia road. Among those killed were a local farmer, Tor Felafa, his son, and Mr. Francis Kulegwa, a respected senior choirmaster at Daudu Mission in the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi. Eyewitnesses disclosed that the victims were ambushed while working on their farms, a method the attackers allegedly adopted after closely monitoring farming activities in the area.

‎Beyond the killings, several villagers were reported abducted, while many others narrowly escaped with their lives. Some residents remain missing, sparking heightened fears across surrounding communities already grappling with insecurity.

‎Benue, widely known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket,” has remained one of the epicenters of violent clashes between farmers and herders. Over the years, repeated attacks have led to large-scale displacement, destruction of livelihoods, and lingering humanitarian crises in several rural settlements.

‎Local leaders and community representatives have once again appealed to relevant authorities to step up security interventions, stressing that rural dwellers remain vulnerable to armed incursions. They lamented that continued inaction could worsen the already dire situation and further deepen the cycle of violence in the state.

‎As of the time of filing this report, neither the Benue State Government nor the Benue State Police Command had released an official statement regarding the incident or the ongoing protest.

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