Tension escalated in Makurdi on Sunday as angry youths chased away the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi, from a protest ground at Wurukum Roundabout.
The protesters, dressed in black and carrying placards, had gathered to demand justice for the brutal killing of over 200 residents in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, allegedly by armed herdsmen.
Hostile Reception for Police Commissioner
When Commissioner Ifeanyi arrived at the protest venue with heavily armed officers to address the demonstrators, he was met with immediate hostility. The enraged youths shouted him down, demanding that he "go to Yelewata" where the massacre occurred, rather than addressing them in the state capital.
"Go to Yelewata!" the protesters chanted repeatedly, forcing the commissioner to leave the scene shortly after his arrival.
Police Response Escalates Situation
Following the commissioner's departure, police operatives began firing teargas at the protesters, causing panic and resulting in several reported injuries. The demonstrators had been peaceful prior to this intervention, expressing their grief and outrage through chants calling for an end to the attacks.
The protest is part of growing unrest in Benue State following the Yelewata massacre. Earlier reports indicate that some victims were "trapped and burnt alive" during the deadly attack by suspected herdsmen.
Wider Protests Across Benue
The demonstration at Wurukum Roundabout is not isolated. Reports indicate that angry youths have also blocked the Abuja-Makurdi highway in protest over the killings, demanding more decisive action from both state and federal authorities.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has been accused by some youth groups of paying lip service to the killings. However, the governor has publicly decried the massacre and pledged to deploy more security operatives to affected areas.
As tensions continue to rise, residents await concrete actions from security agencies and government officials to address the security challenges in the state and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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