Residents of Apa, Benue State, have taken to the streets in protest against the recent wanton killings in the area by suspected herdsmen militia.
Scores of protesting youths mounted roadblocks, blocking the Oweto-Loko/Abuja federal highway road on Friday morning. Commuters were stranded for over five hours.
Some of the protesters, who spoke to our correspondent, said they would not open the roadblock until President Muhammadu Buhari or Governor Samuel Ortom came to address them.
The protesters lamented that over 100 people had been killed in the community, including a beaded chief whose hand was chopped off while running from the Fulani herdsmen.
And to drive home the point, several persons have been killed in a deadly attack launched on the Umogidi community of Entekpa Adoka district in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected killer herdsmen.
The attack and killing took place on Wednesday, leading to the death of 46 persons, including a son of the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Bako Eje.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Hemba (rtd.), Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Security, who confirmed the development, said: “I can confirm to you that there was an attack in Umogidi and as of this morning, the casualty figure, from those who were seen physically from what I was told, was 46. But the figure may be higher because some people are still reported missing.”
Sources said that Wednesday’s attack came a day after the some terrorists invaded the community and killed three persons on Tuesday.
Prior to that incident, the assailants also attacked the Igbobi community in the neighbouring Apa Local Government Area of the State on Monday.