Outraged by the gruesome killings of over 200 villagers in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, hundreds of youths in Benue State took to the streets in protest on Sunday, blocking major roads and demanding an end to the sustained attacks by suspected armed herders.
As early as 7 a.m., the demonstrators converged at the Wurukum Roundabout—a major traffic hub in Makurdi—singing solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions like “Stop Benue Killings,” “Government Has Failed Us,” and “We Will Not Surrender to Fulani.” The protest brought vehicular movement in the state capital to a complete halt for hours, leaving commuters stranded.
The latest massacre in Yelwata, which claimed the lives of men, women, children, and even internally displaced persons (IDPs), has drawn nationwide outrage. President Bola Tinubu described the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress,” and ordered security agencies to arrest the perpetrators. “Enough is enough,” he declared in a statement released by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga.
Despite these assurances, the protesters voiced strong distrust in the government’s ability—or willingness—to protect citizens. Attempts by Benue State Deputy Governor Dr. Sam Ode and the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, to calm the crowd were rejected. The youths demanded that Governor Hyacinth Alia appear in person.
“We have cried, sent messages, written open letters. Nobody listened. Nobody came to our aid,” said protester Brahms Ikuan. “We don’t even know if a place called Benue will still exist tomorrow.”
Another protester, Seedoff Mbapuun, a social media influencer, decried the repeated attacks and alleged silence of both the state and federal governments. “Yelwata is barely 30 minutes from Makurdi. If people can be killed like that so close to the state capital, then no one is safe. The world needs to know what’s happening here,” he said.
As tension escalated, some youths set up cooking pots and brought out bags of rice to prepare food on the road, signaling a prolonged sit-in. Police later responded with teargas to disperse the crowd, leading to a brief stampede.
In the midst of the chaos, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), a social commentator and activist, arrived at the protest ground to intervene. His arrival was met with loud cheers, and he was quickly surrounded by emotional protesters.
Addressing the crowd at UBA Junction, VDM condemned the killings and government inaction.
“Before I got here, I saw things that broke me—burnt children, destroyed farms, and lifeless bodies. I’ve been hearing about Benue killings since I was a child. It’s been decades and nothing has changed.”
He urged the protesters to maintain civility, warning that violence or roadblocks could be used as justification for state crackdown.
“Let us not give them a reason to shoot teargas at us. The era of burning things is over. This is 2025. Let’s protest with strategy, with unity, and with brains. Use your phones, your voices. Walk peacefully—even to Government House—if you must, but don’t destroy.”
His plea resonated. The protesters began clearing barricades and extinguishing bonfires on roads including New Otukpo Road and Abu King Shuluwa Junction. VDM led them back to Wurukum Roundabout, where he urged them to organize future protests with police clearance to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Shortly after, the crowd dispersed peacefully, singing solidarity songs and chanting praises for the activist.
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Kadarko and other Tiv communities bordering Guma, as fears of more attacks loom. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings, stating that “nothing justifies the taking of human lives,” while the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reportedly taken over security coordination in the state.
In a flurry of responses:
- Peter Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, blamed the tragedy on governance failure, calling it “a stain on Nigeria’s collective conscience.”
- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines to unite in condemning the killings and press for lasting solutions.
- The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called for the immediate sack of security chiefs, warning that the unaddressed bloodshed could trigger ethnic conflict.
- Even the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, offered prayers for victims of the Benue massacre during a special Mass at the Vatican.
As Benue mourns yet another mass killing, the cries for justice, security, and survival grow louder.
