Outrage Mounts as Benue Protesters March Victims’ Bodies to Royal Palace
A wave of grief and anger swept through Otukpo, Benue State, on Sunday as residents staged a protest at the palace of the Och’Idoma, His Royal Majesty Agabaidu Elaigwu John Odogbo, following fresh attacks that claimed more than 10 lives.
The demonstrators carried the bodies of those killed during the attacks, drawing attention to the worsening security situation in Benue South and demanding immediate intervention from the authorities.
The latest violence reportedly occurred in two communities within Otukpo Local Government Area, where suspected armed herders launched separate attacks, leaving several people dead and throwing the affected communities into mourning.
Eyewitnesses said the protesters, many of them youths and relatives of the victims, marched to the traditional ruler’s palace to express their frustration over the recurring killings.
They urged the Benue State Government, the Federal Government and security agencies to take decisive action to protect lives and prevent further bloodshed.
During the protest, mourners questioned why communities have continued to suffer repeated attacks despite previous assurances by authorities to improve security across the state.
Some of the protesters were heard chanting, “How long will this continue? Will a man escape from his own ancestral land? We have lost hope in our politicians,” reflecting the growing despair among residents.
Benue has witnessed repeated attacks in recent years, particularly in farming communities, with many lives lost and thousands displaced.
The latest incident has once again renewed calls for stronger security measures and a lasting solution to the violence that has continued to affect several parts of the state.
At the time of this report, neither the Benue State Government nor security agencies had released an official statement on the latest attacks, while residents continued to mourn the victims and demand justice.
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