Benue Women Protest Insecurity, Arbitrary Arrests, Block Federal Highway

In a bold demonstration of frustration and anguish, women from the North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, took to the streets on Friday, July 4, to protest rising insecurity and what they described as the unlawful arrest of innocent residents by security operatives. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

The protest, which saw a temporary shutdown of the Agan tollgate on the busy federal highway, caused a significant traffic buildup as the women, waving tree branches and singing protest songs, demanded justice and government intervention.

Clad in wrappers and headscarves—symbols of mourning and protest—the women voiced anger over what they called “daily harassment” and fear from both armed herders and the very forces meant to protect them.

“In just one day, 50 innocent persons were arrested in North Bank, and it’s happening every day. We live in fear not only of Fulani herdsmen who attack us but now also of security agencies who come and pick up our husbands and sons for no reason,” one woman said tearfully.

Many of the women described the security operations in their community as targeted and unjust, insisting that instead of pursuing criminals or protecting them from armed herdsmen attacks, the authorities were arresting “able-bodied men” indiscriminately.

Background: A Region Under Siege

Benue State has been a hotspot in Nigeria’s farmer-herder conflict, with frequent reports of violent attacks on villages by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Despite several government promises and military operations, locals say the killings and displacement have continued, particularly in remote and vulnerable communities.

The North Bank area in Makurdi, once considered a safe suburban zone, has increasingly become a flashpoint, with residents now fearing both external attacks and internal crackdowns.

Silence from the Government

As of press time, Benue State authorities and security agencies have not released an official statement addressing the women’s grievances or confirming the alleged mass arrests.