Angry youths on Sunday stormed the Wurukum food basket roundabout to protest the alleged killing of scores of residents by suspected herdsmen in Yelwata, in Benue State.
The protesters converged on the Wurukum food basket roundabout Makurdi as early as 8 am to demand action over the alleged killing on Saturday in Yelwata.
They were later joined by a social media influencer, Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.
Speaking to journalists, one of the protesters, Solomon Amande, said Benue youths were angry at the deafening silence of President Bola Tinubu, and the governor of Benue State despite the killing of children, women, and the elderly.
An attempt by the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, to address the protesters was resisted as they told him to tell the governor, Hyacinth Alia, to come personally to address them.
They were later confronted by armed policemen and soldiers who attempted to stop them, leading to an escalation and the use of tear gas at the protesters.
Some youths at the scene of the protest in Benue State after tear gas canisters were fired on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
However, the defiant protesters said they would resist any intimidation, calling on the President and the governor to take action.
The protest came amid incessant attacks that have resulted in the deaths of innocent people across the state.
Last Saturday, armed men, suspected to be herders invaded Yelwata, leaving scores of residents feared dead.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State condemned the attack and killing of innocent citizens at Yelewata by suspected criminal herders, saying that nothing should warrant the taking of life.
Alia, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the state, Sam Ode, on a visit to the scene of the heinous act earlier on Sunday, said he was not resting on his laurels to ensure that the state experiences peace.
He says, “Governor Hyacinth Alia acknowledges and shares in your pains and grief caused by the attacks on your community by criminal elements suspected to be armed herdsmen,” the governor was quoted as saying in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary on Sunday.
Alia said the state government was consistently engaging with federal security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen security interventions and provide lasting solutions to these persistent attacks.
He, therefore, assured the residents that more tactical teams had started arriving in Benue from the Federal Government and additional security deployments were being arranged for vulnerable areas.
He said response squad teams were also deployed and would be in Benue from Sunday, while strategic community dialogues were ongoing to enhance active intelligence sharing.
“The state’s joint operations units are also being strengthened, and the government will not relent in its utmost commitment to defending the lives and properties of all residents.
“In the spirit of peace and unity, we call on religious, traditional, and political leaders across the state to sensitise and guide the youths under their influence against unlawful gatherings or confrontations that may spiral out of control,” the governor added.
