Hundreds of women in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State protested on Tuesday against the ongoing killings in their communities.
The women gathered at the major road in Ugbokpo, the LGA headquarters, expressing deep anguish over the escalating violence that has left many widowed and children orphaned.
Communities like Ijaha Ikobi, Edikwu-Ankpali, and Odugbo have suffered multiple deadly attacks recently, with 25 people reportedly killed just last Sunday.
Protesting under the banner “Voice of the Hopeless Women”, they carried a letter detailing their pain over relentless assaults on their families, homes, and farmlands.
The letter stated, “Our children can hardly go to school, our lives are in danger, and our future is in shambles.”
Placards read messages such as “Stop killing our men”, “We are now widows, not by choice”, and “Enough is enough.” They called on the federal government to intervene and halt the violence.
Ada Ocholi, a local APC chieftain and lawyer, described the protest as peaceful and timely, highlighting the suffering of residents at the hands of suspected armed herders.
The Chairman of Apa Local Government, Adams Ocheiga, declined to comment, saying he was not in the area and unable to confirm the protest.
