Benue Women Protest Rising Insecurity, Accuse Security Forces of Arbitrary Arrests
On Friday, July 4, women from the North Bank area, a suburb of Makurdi in Benue State, took to the streets in protest over escalating insecurity and what they described as unjustified arrests by security operatives.
The protest brought traffic to a temporary halt along the busy federal highway near the Agan toll gate, as the women formed roadblocks, waved tree branches, and chanted in unison to demand action and accountability.
Speaking during the demonstration, several protesters expressed frustration over what they described as a disturbing pattern of indiscriminate detentions carried out by security personnel operating in the area. They alleged that while their communities continue to face attacks from armed herders, security agencies have instead turned their focus inward—targeting innocent residents.
“In a single day, over 50 people were arrested in North Bank—men who have done nothing wrong,” one protester said. “We now live in fear of both the herdsmen who attack our villages and the security forces who raid our homes. Our husbands and sons are being taken without cause.”
The women accused authorities of ignoring the real threats posed by armed groups and instead criminalizing their communities. They called on government and military officials to redirect their efforts toward protecting lives rather than intimidating law-abiding citizens.
The demonstration, though peaceful, reflected the growing tension in communities across Benue State, where concerns over security and civilian rights have continued to mount.
A video clip of the protest is available below.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLrqSESNZgV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
