Angry Youths, VeryDarkMan Lead Protest Over Yelwata Massacre
Angry youths took to the streets of Makurdi on Sunday to protest the killing of residents in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, allegedly by suspected herders. The protest, which began at the Wurukum food basket roundabout around 8 a.m., drew attention to the growing insecurity and perceived silence of authorities.
The demonstrators were later joined by popular social media activist, Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who lent his voice to the outcry against the continuous bloodshed in the state.
Speaking during the protest, one of the demonstrators, Solomon Amande, expressed frustration with President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia for not addressing the rising death toll in the state.
According to Amande, “Benue youths were angry at the deafening silence of President Bola Tinubu, and the governor of Benue State despite the killing of children, women and the elderly.”
Efforts by the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, to pacify the protesters were met with resistance. The crowd demanded that Governor Alia address them in person.
As tensions escalated, armed policemen and soldiers moved in and fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd, but the defiant protesters stood their ground, insisting they would not be silenced until concrete action was taken.
The protest followed a brutal attack in Yelwata on Saturday, where heavily armed men, believed to be herders, reportedly killed scores of innocent residents, adding to the growing list of deadly assaults across the state.
