Benue Women Block Atan Tollgate in Protest Against Killings

A group of women from Benue State on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Atan Tollgate in Ogun State to draw national attention to the relentless killings in their communities.

The women, dressed mostly in black to symbolize mourning, blocked the busy tollgate, causing a traffic gridlock along the Atan-Sango road for hours.

They held placards with messages such as “Stop Killing Our People,” “Benue Lives Matter,” and “Enough is Enough.”

Speaking to journalists, some of the protesters said they were forced to flee their homes due to repeated attacks by armed groups, particularly in rural parts of Guma, Logo, and Ukum local government areas.

“We are tired of watching our people die every day while the government does nothing,” said Mlumun Iorliam, one of the protesters. “We are here to demand that the killings stop and that the government protects our communities.”

Another protester, Rose Ugande, said, “We have cried for too long. If Abuja won’t hear us, maybe Lagos and Ogun will.”

Security agents were deployed to maintain calm, and the protest ended peacefully in the afternoon. The women warned that similar demonstrations would continue across the country until decisive action is taken to stop the bloodshed in Benue.

The state has been one of Nigeria’s worst-hit by violence involving suspected herdsmen, bandits, and communal clashes, with hundreds killed or displaced in recent months.