●●● Bereaved Residents Chase Deputy Gov. Out of Grieving Communities
Youths protesting along Abuja-Markudi Highway
By Victory Oghene
Protests have grounded most parts of Benue State as angry Benue youths on Sunday blocked the Abuja-Makurdi highway, expressing outrage over the continued killings in the state.
The demonstrators, dressed in black attires and carrying palm fronds and placards with various inscriptions, barricaded the ever-busy road, disrupting vehicular movement and demanding immediate action to end the bloodshed.
The protesters prevented vehicles from passing, causing gridlock and panic among commuters.
The protest comes barely 24 hours after suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 people were reportedly killed.
In a related development, the Deputy Governor of Benue state, Sam Ode who was despatched to the affected communities was virtually chased out of the place where mass burial is being conducted for the victims.
“Where is the Governor himself? Is he running away from us? Why is he not here? Maybe he’s running away from us,” a resident of one of the affected communities yelled at the deputy governor who left the scene to prevent tension from escalating.
