Police operatives in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Sunday fired tear gas at demonstrators who gathered to protest the recent wave of killings in the state.
The peaceful protest, held at the Wurukum roundabout, was organized in response to the deadly attacks in Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area, where over 100 lives were reportedly lost on Friday night.
The tragic incident occurred less than 48 hours after 25 other residents were killed in Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities of Makurdi LGA.
Dressed in black and carrying fresh green leaves—a traditional symbol of mourning—the protesters called on government and security agencies to take decisive action to end the unrelenting violence.
The demonstration, trending online under the hashtag #StopBenueKillings, drew a sizable crowd and caught the attention of the state’s security operatives.
Commissioner of Police in Benue, Emenari Ifeanyi, addressed the demonstrators prior to the dispersal.
While he appealed for calm, he also warned that prolonged protests could impede ongoing security operations aimed at restoring peace.
“I was monitoring the situation at a checkpoint for over six hours. We need the support of the youth and everyone in Benue State,” he said.
“This is a phase, and we are already passing through it. We have cut off the head of the snake, and we will get the peace we deserve. But if you prolong your actions here, you’re giving the enemies room to regroup. We have intelligence on their movements, and we are working to block them.”
Despite his appeal, officers moved to disperse the crowd, launching canisters of tear gas that sent protesters fleeing in different directions, choking and shielding their faces.
Videos surfaced shortly after, showing security trucks stationed at the protest site and a police helicopter hovering overhead.
In one clip, a protester lamented: “If this level of energy had been used to secure the lives of our people, we wouldn’t be out here protesting.”
The protest is the latest in a series of civil responses to the persistent violence in Benue, where citizens continue to decry the government’s perceived inaction in the face of mass killings often linked to herdsmen attacks.
While police have promised renewed efforts to restore calm, public trust remains fragile as residents await concrete action against the perpetrators.