Women Protest Incessant Killings By Herdsmen In Benue [Photos]

Hundreds of women in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the ongoing attacks by suspected herdsmen that have left many dead and displaced.

The protest, held in Ugbokpo, the council’s headquarters, saw women expressing deep frustration and sorrow over the constant violence.

Many of them said they had lost their husbands in the attacks and were now left to raise children alone.

Communities like Ijaha Ikobi, Edikwu-Ankpali, and Odugbo have recently suffered repeated attacks, with the most recent incident on Sunday reportedly claiming 25 lives.

Protesting under the name “Voice of the Hopeless Women,” the group carried a letter that highlighted the devastating impact of the violence.

According to the letter, their homes and farms have been invaded, and their loved ones—including children and husbands—have been brutally killed.

“We have been triggered by their entrance into our farms, homes, and rooms to kill and destroy our children, husbands, and dear loved ones, including fellow women.

“Today, our children can hardly go to school, our lives are in danger, and our future is in shambles,” the letter partly reads.

Many of the women carried placards with messages like “Stop killing our men,” “We are widows, not by choice,” and “Enough is enough,” calling on the Federal Government to step in and bring an end to the bloodshed.

A local leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and lawyer, Ada Ocholi, who joined the protest, described it as peaceful and much needed, given what residents are going through.

However, when contacted, the Chairman of Apa LGA, Adams Ocheiga, declined to speak.

“Sorry, I’m not in the mood to talk to journalists now. “Besides, I’m not in Apa at the moment, so I cannot confirm if there is any protest going on,” he said.

See some photos below:

KanyiDaily recalls that suspected bandits recently launched new attacks in Benue State, killing several people across Guma and Gwer West Local Government Areas.