Benue Women Protest Herdsmen Violence in Apa LGA, Demand Government Action

In response to the relentless assaults by armed herders, a significant number of women convened in Ugbokpo, the administrative center of Apa Local Government Area in Benue State, to protest the ongoing violence and devastation in their communities. The demonstrators, bearing placards with messages such as “Apa is our land, not for Fulani” and “Government has failed us,” marched through the streets, voicing their anguish over the loss of lives and property. This protest was precipitated by recent attacks on Ijaha, Ibele, Ochekwu, and Edikwu Ankpali communities, which resulted in 28 fatalities and numerous injuries.

Organized under the banner of ‘The Voice of the Voiceless Women in Apa,’ the protesters had previously notified authorities and security agencies of their intentions through a letter endorsed by the Hunter Group, Apa Chapter. The letter detailed the atrocities committed by the herders, including invasions of homes and farms, leading to the deaths of children, husbands, and other loved ones. One protest leader highlighted the government’s prolonged silence, comparing the severity of the attacks to those in the Northeast, stating that the herders’ actions were more brutal and dehumanizing.

Despite attempts to reach out, the Chairman of Apa Local Government Council, Mr. Adams Ocheiga, declined to comment on the situation.

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