Angry youths dressed in black attire blocked the Abuja-Makurdi highway on Sunday, protesting the continued killings in Benue State and demanding immediate government action.
The demonstrators, carrying palm fronds and placards with various inscriptions, barricaded the busy interstate road, causing significant traffic disruption and creating panic among travelers.
Protest Follows Deadly Attack
The protest comes less than 24 hours after suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 people were reportedly killed.
Despite earlier warnings from the Benue State Government against unlawful gatherings in the wake of escalating tensions, the youths proceeded with their demonstration, expressing feelings of abandonment by authorities.
"We demand concrete security measures and justice for the victims of these attacks," one protester told BenriNews at the scene.
Recent Violence in Benue
The Yelewata attack has been described as a "Black Saturday" by local sources, with at least 107 bodies recovered according to reports. The incident is part of ongoing security challenges in the state, which has seen multiple communities targeted in recent months.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has reportedly decried the massacre and pledged to deploy more security operatives to affected areas.
As of the time of reporting, authorities had not issued an official response to the protest, while the highway remained partially blocked.
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