The ever busy Makurdi-Lafia highway has been blocked by protesters over the killing of five people in two villages in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State
According to Daily Trust Newspaper, hundreds of women and youths trooped out early Friday morning to mount a roadblock on the highway leading from Makurdi to Lafia and Abuja.
It was gathered that travellers were stranded as there was no movement of vehicles in or out of Makurdi, the state capital.
The victims were reportedly killed in separate attacks by the gunmen, who besieged the sleepy rural communities of Ngban and killed three people on Thursday.
The gunman also attacked and killed two people at Nyian on Friday morning.
The villagers lamented a similar attack in the community earlier this year, which led to the killing of over 30 people, including the IDPs.
Meanwhile, the special adviser on security to the local government,Christopher Waku, confirmed the killings.
“Our women have trooped out to the Makurdi-Abuja federal highway since 5 a.m. today [Friday], as you can hear from background of the telephone conversation. Right now, they are singing emotional songs and no vehicle coming from either Abuja or Makurdi can pass through to either side.
“The women are protesting the murder of five people killed yesterday [Thursday] night and this morning [ Friday].
“Three people were killed at Ngban yesterday night, and two people killed at Nyian this morning.
“The women have said that they are not going to leave the road until the governor comes and talk to them. I’m right now on the road where the women are protesting, waiting for Governor Hyacinth Alia,” Mr Waku said.
