Villagers Block Highway Over Fresh Killings in Benue

Villagers along the Makurdi–Lafia road, on Saturday, blocked the highway in protest over the killing of five farmers on their way to the farm in the outskirts of Makurdi bordering Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incidents, which occurred separately on Friday and early Saturday, led the protesters to block the road with the corpses of three of the victims.

Witnesses said two people were killed around Tse Adaa village of Guma on Friday, while the remaining three were hacked to death at Abagena, and Atsom communities of Makurdi LGA on Saturday morning.

A resident, Terkaa Asongo, said the killings prompted the protesters to move the corpses to the road, demanding government action to end the attacks.

Also, a traveller, Melody Ede, who was on her way to Abuja, said the blockage caused motorists to be stranded for hours as the villagers insisted the state governor must address them.

“But as we speak, we see security agencies actively working to resolve the situation and restore safe passage,” Ede said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the killing of two farmers in a Guma village.

Edet, however, said she was not aware of any road blockage with corpses and promised to call the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area for further information.