One of the protesters, Oche Agama, spoke to journalists on the telephone, stating that they wanted the government to address the situation in their community. The National Chairman of the Apa Development Association, Barrister Eche Akpoko, confirmed that the protesters were agitated by the wanton destruction of lives and property in their area, as criminal elements continued to attack the community.
Akpoko explained that the protesters wanted the government to take decisive action to end the killings and bring the perpetrators to justice. The youths blocked the expressway, preventing commuters from Abuja or Otukpo from accessing the road. The military intervened, appealing to the protesters to quit the road, but the youths were further agitated, questioning why the military had not gone after the killers.
The situation was eventually brought under control, but the chairman of Apa LGA, Mrs Patricia Amali, confirmed that the protest was triggered by the killings in the area, particularly the large number of people killed in Umogidi village in Otukpo LGA. Amali explained that the protest had been peaceful until hoodlums later hijacked it, prompting her to involve security operatives to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
Reacting to the protest, the Special Adviser to Benue Governor on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (rtd), said that he had been informed by the state Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, that the situation had been brought under control. Hemba sympathised with the protesters, acknowledging that they were angry about the situation in their community. He assured them that the government was doing everything possible to address the situation and prevent further attacks.
In a related development, the people of Umogidi in the Adoka district of Otukpo LGA reported that four additional corpses had been recovered, bringing the number of people killed in Umogidi in one swoop to 50. A youth leader in the area confirmed that Umogidi and its neighbouring villages had been deserted for fear of further attacks. He added that last week, two persons were killed in Ewili, three in Umogidi, and 46 in one swoop, leading to the desertion of several villages in the area.
The Security Adviser, Hemba, who had just returned from an on-the-spot assessment of the affected area with the state deputy governor, Engr. Benson Abounu confirmed that the deceased had been buried. He noted that the situation was calm, and more security had been deployed to the area. The deputy governor encouraged those who wanted to return to their homes to do so, assuring them that the government was taking measures to ensure their safety.
The continued attacks on communities in Benue State have become a major cause for concern, with residents and community leaders calling on the government to take urgent action to address the situation. The wanton destruction of lives and property by criminal elements has led to the displacement of thousands of people, causing them to flee their homes in fear of further attacks. The government must act decisively to end the killings, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure the safety of residents in affected communities.