Protesting Benue Women Block Highway As Herdsmen Kill Five

Protesting Benue women mounted a roadblock on Makurdi/Laafia/Abuja federal highway on Friday, following the killing of five people by suspected herders.

According to a local who simply identified himself as Sunny, five people were killed in separate attacks by suspected herdsmen in two communities in the Guma Local Government area of Benue State.

Sunny who spoke to Punch on the phone said that three people were killed Thursday night at Ngban and another two at Nyian.

Confirming the report, the security officer of Guma Local Government, Christopher Waku, said that five people were killed by suspected herders.

Waku said, “Our women have trooped out to the Makurdi/Abuja federal highway since 5 am today, you can hear from the background how they are singing emotional songs and no vehicle coming from either Abuja or Makurdi can move now.

“The women are protesting the killing of five people yesterday (Thursday) night and this morning (Friday).

He added, “Three people were killed at Ngban yesterday night and two people killed at Nyian this morning, the women have said that they are not going to leave the road until the governor comes and talks to them. I’m right now at the road the women are protesting waiting for governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia.”

Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene were not successful as her phone rang out.