Grieving Women of Benue Stage Protest Over Rising Killings in Apa LGA

A large group of women gathered on Tuesday in Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa Local Government Area in Benue State, to protest the incessant violence and killings devastating their communities. The women expressed profound grief and anger as they marched along the main road, demanding an end to the bloodshed.

Many participants spoke of their personal losses, having been rendered widows while their children were left orphaned. Recent attacks have ravaged communities such as Ijaha Ikobi, Edikwu-Ankpali, and Odugbo, with numerous fatalities reported.

According to eyewitness accounts, 25 people were killed in a single attack last Sunday, a tragedy that has left the community reeling. The protestors, organized under the name “Voice of the Hopeless Women,” presented a letter detailing their pain and desperation. It stated, “We have been triggered by their entrance into our farms, homes, and rooms to kill and destroy our children, husbands, and dear loved ones, including fellow women.”

The letter continued, “Today, our children can hardly go to school, our lives are in danger, and our future is in shambles.” The women carried placards with inscriptions such as “Stop killing our men,” “We are now widows, not by choice,” and “Enough is enough,” reflecting their urgent call for peace.

Ada Ocholi, a legal practitioner and local APC leader, praised the demonstration as “peaceful and timely,” highlighting the suffering of innocent residents at the hands of suspected armed herders. Efforts to obtain comments from Apa LGA Chairman Adams Ocheiga were unsuccessful, as he declined to speak, citing his absence from the area.