Benue youths protest killings, block road, LG office

Youths in their tens on Wednesday blocked the Ayati -Sai road in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State to protest the incessant killings in the area.

The youths also invaded the council secretariat in Zaki Biam, headquarters of Ukum LGA destroying things to express their displeasure over what they described as government insensitivity towards incessant killings in the local government.

Wednesday’s protest, according to a resident of Ayati village who spoke to our correspondent on the phone was triggered by the killing of 11 people Tuesday night by local bandits.

The source who pleaded anonymity for fear of being attacked said, “You know how volatile the local government has been in recent times. There is hardly a day we don’t experience killings and kidnappings in this council, unfortunately, the state government has not shown any seriousness in tackling these daily killings.

“Tuesday night, these bandits invaded Ayati village and killed several people, as at the time youths recovered 11 corpses it triggered angst and subsequently stormed the road and protested the killing.

“Some of the youths also went to the council secretariat with the recovered corpses to vent their anger smatched windows and destroyed things there.”

When contacted, Chairman of Ukum LGA, Victor Iorzaa could not confirm the incident, saying he was not in the position to speak on the incident.

“Am not in a position to speak on that now,” he said.

Though, the state command spokesperson, Catherine Anene confirmed the protest in Ukum LGA but said she was yet to get the cause of the protest.

Anene the state government also confirmed the protest and killings in Ukum LGA.

Also, the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har said bandits were responsible for the killing.

Har said, “Yes, they are protesting because of the killings in the area. We don’t have the details yet but bandits are responsible. They are protesting and threatening to burn down the LG Secretariat but they are aware that the state government has dislodged these bandits.

“So what the bandits just did is what we call in security parlance, “the last kick of a dying horse. Just a few days ago, there was massive destruction of their camps in Katsina-Ala. So this is their last kick. They have been dislodged and they are trying everything they can to vent their anger on the armless people and possibly cause confusion in the towns.

“So I have spoken to the leader of the youths and I told them to be patient. Government is going to sustain the momentum. We will not be deterred by the killings but we will sustain the heat and pressure on them so they can be degraded completely.”Youths protest killings in Benue