Benue Communities' Residents Protest Against Murders

RESIDENTS of Benue State's Gwer West Local Government Area blocked the Makurdi-Naka route in a protest against recent deaths in their communities.

The protest came after a horrific attack on Saturday that claimed the lives of 26 people, including six members of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards, by suspected herdsmen. The onslaught continued till Monday.

The Local Government Benevolent Area Chairman, Henry Agba, reported the occurrence and censured the state government for allegedly failing to enforce the Anti-Open Grazing Law, as perceived by the locals.

Deputy Governor Sam Ode had already declared on March 6 that this rule would be fully implemented following a 14-day notice to leave given to armed herders and those grazing in the open.

The Federal and State Governments should act decisively to protect them from armed herders, as demanded by the placards held by protesters during the demonstration.

The state government of Benue State has come under fire from Francis Ayagah, a former chairman of the local government of Gwer West. He claimed that by allowing herders to roam freely with their weapons and livestock, they have increased the level of insecurity in the area and violated the Open Grazing Prohibition.

Titus Numzua, an additional demonstrator from the impacted council ward, emphasized the growing security threats resulting from a herder migration into the area.

He urged the government at all levels to put the security of the people first and provide the Benue State Livestock Guards and Community Volunteer Guards and other security agencies the support they need to bring peace back.

Senator Titus Zam of the Benue North West Senatorial District condoled with the victims and denounced the well-planned assaults that claimed numerous lives.

Arc. Dr. Asema Achado, the representative for the Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, on the other hand, denounced the heinous murder of citizens and urged the Benue State Government to uphold laws against open grazing while making sure that those accountable for the violence are brought to justice.