Women Protest Killing of Farmers by Herdsmen in Benue State, Blockade Road
Women, mostly internally-displaced persons, staged a protest yesterday in Ngban community, Benue State, denouncing the killing of three farmers by herdsmen. Ngban, a settlement along the Makurdi-Lafia Road, has been a repeated target of militant herdsmen attacks, resulting in the death of numerous peasant farmers. This year alone, the community has suffered several assaults, with the most devastating attack on April 7, 2023, claiming the lives of 36 individuals in a single incident.
Just a few weeks before this incident, six people, including three members of the Benue Community Volunteer Guards, were killed. In response to the recent attack, the women took to the streets, blocking the Federal Highway that connects the state to Nassarawa State at the Igyungu Ortese point. This blockade halted traffic in the community and its surroundings, amplifying their demand for justice.
In an effort to address the issue, the Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, dispatched a delegation of traditional rulers from the area, led by His Royal Highness Dennis Shemberga, the Ter Guma, and Chief Bernard Shawa, the District Head of Nyiev. Their mission was to urge the protesting women to clear the road temporarily until the governor could tackle the problem at hand.
Despite attempts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Supol Catherine Anene, for confirmation, there was no response at the time of filing this report. The situation remains tense, as the community continues to demand justice for the loss of their farmers’ lives.
