By Amos Aar
WOMEN from the Agan Community in Makurdi LGA of Benue State on Friday blocked the Makurdi-Lafia federal highway in protest over what they described as continued police raids, arrests, and gunfire in the area following alleged murder of two travellers from Kano State recently.
The protest was staged days after Benue State governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, on June 24, 2025, confirmed the killing of the two Kano indigenes in the Agan area.
The governor condemned the incident and ordered security agencies to arrest the perpetrators. He also extended his condolences to the Kano State governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, describing the killings as tragic and regrettable.
In the wake of the governor’s directive, several youths were reportedly arrested within 48 hours in connection with the incident.
The protesting women, seen in a viral video, sang in Tiv, expressing grief and frustration.
They chanted: “Tell Fr Alia oooo, we want to die. Tell Fr Alia oooo, we are not sleeping. Tell Fr Alia ooo, we are not going to our farms.”
They alleged that police operatives have been storming Agan at night, making arbitrary arrests and firing gunshots, thereby terrorising the community.
The women further lamented that while Fulani herders continue to attack and kill residents in the area, no single arrests have been made in those cases.
They accused security personnel of using the murder investigation as a pretext to intimidate and extort locals.
