Yelewata k!llings: Benue assembly demands release of arrested protesters

The Benue State House of Assembly has called for the immediate release of 14 individuals arrested by the police during a protest over deadly attacks in Yelewata community.

The resolution followed a heated plenary session on Tuesday, June 17, where lawmakers condemned the recent violence and urged authorities to safeguard vulnerable communities across the state.

The arrests stemmed from a demonstration held on Sunday, June 15, at the Wurukum Food Basket Roundabout in Makurdi, where residents protested the killing of several people in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, allegedly by suspected herdsmen. The protest, initially peaceful, escalated after security forces attempted to disperse the crowd.

Among the demonstrators was Martin Otse, a prominent social media activist known as VeryDarkMan, who joined the protest to amplify calls for justice and government intervention.

Tensions rose when the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, arrived at the scene in an effort to calm the protesters. The demonstrators, however, rejected his intervention, demanding instead that Governor Hyacinth Alia appear in person to address their grievances.

The situation turned chaotic when armed police and military personnel moved in to disperse the crowd. Tear gas was fired, and 14 individuals were arrested by operatives of the Benue State Police Command. Authorities have since accused the detainees of hijacking the protest and attempting to incite unrest.

Despite the allegations, members of the State Assembly insisted that the protest was an expression of frustration over recurring violence and a perceived lack of response from the government. They urged the police to release the arrested individuals and emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly.

Lawmakers also called on security agencies to intensify efforts to secure rural communities, particularly those in areas frequently targeted by violent attacks. They reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to holding the government accountable in its duty to protect lives and property across the state.