Tension erupted on Saturday as villagers blocked the Makurdi–Lafia highway to protest the killing of five farmers on their way to the farm in the outskirts of Makurdi, near Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Witnesses reported that two people were killed around Tse Adaa village of Guma on Friday, while three others were hacked to death in Abagena and Atsom communities of Makurdi LGA early Saturday.
Protesters moved three of the victims’ corpses to the road, demanding urgent government intervention to stop the repeated attacks.
A traveller, Melody Ede, said the roadblock left motorists stranded for hours as villagers insisted the state governor must address them. “But as we speak, we see security agencies actively working to resolve the situation and restore safe passage,” she added.
When contacted, Benue Police PRO, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the killing of two farmers in Guma but said she was not aware of the road blockade, adding that she would reach out to the Divisional Police Officer in the area for updates.
