A large number of women and youths from Apa Local Government Area of Benue State blocked the busy Otukpo-Abuja highway on Tuesday in protest against persistent killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in their communities.

The protesters, operating under the banner "Voice of the Hopeless Women," conducted a peaceful but emotionally charged demonstration against what they described as relentless attacks on their families, homes, and farmlands.

In a formal letter titled "Notification of a Peaceful Demonstration" addressed to local authorities including the Apa LGA Chairman, police, Civil Defence, Volunteer Guard, and traditional leaders, the women expressed their anguish over the targeted attacks.

"We have been triggered by their entrance into our farms, homes, and rooms to kill and destroy our children, husbands, and dear loved ones, including fellow women," the letter stated. "Today, our children can hardly go to school, our lives are in danger, our future in shambles."

Recent Attacks Fuel Protests

The demonstration follows Sunday's deadly attack in Ankpali Edikwu, also in Apa LGA, where armed men reportedly stormed homes in broad daylight, killing residents in what witnesses described as deliberate and savage attacks.

According to eyewitness accounts, victims were not caught in crossfire but were hunted down in their own houses, a pattern that has become increasingly common in the region.

Sources confirmed ongoing demonstrations across the LGA, with reports of new attacks in Odugbo, where gunshots were reportedly heard early Tuesday morning.

One protester, who requested anonymity, said: "Even in the North East where Boko Haram operates, they don't go into people's homes to slaughter them like animals. But in Ankpali and other parts of Apa, Fulani herdsmen go from house to house, butchering people in such dehumanising and cruel manners."

Calls for Government Action

The protesters carried placards with messages such as "Stop Killing Our Men," "We Are Widows Not by Choice," and "Enough is Enough." They are demanding immediate deployment of security personnel, a government investigation into the killings, and relief for affected families.

There is growing sentiment among Apa residents that the government's silence is complicit, as no high-profile official has sincerely and publicly condemned the recent attacks. This perceived neglect has fueled suspicion of indifference, with civil society groups and women's associations now demanding concrete action.

The protest comes amid increasing concerns about security in Benue State, which has witnessed numerous deadly clashes between farming communities and herders in recent years.