Hundreds of women in Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa Local Government Area in Benue State, staged a peaceful protest in response to ongoing attacks by armed herdsmen. They gathered early in the morning, holding placards and chanting sorrowful songs as they marched through the town to express their grief and demand immediate government action.
The protest came after a violent Sunday attack on Ijaha, Ibele, Ochekwu, and Edikwu Ankpali communities that reportedly left 28 people dead and many others injured. According to eyewitnesses and organizers, these attacks have become frequent and devastating, leaving families shattered, homes destroyed, and farms ruined.
Carrying placards with bold messages such as “Fulani, stop killing our men,” “Apa, a community of widows,” and “Government has failed us,” the women protested under the name The Voice of the Voiceless Women in Apa. Their message was clear: the killings must end, and authorities must take swift action to protect innocent lives.
In a prior letter sent to government and security agencies, the women described the repeated invasions by herdsmen, who they claim enter homes and farms to kill and destroy without resistance. They said their husbands, children, and fellow women are being murdered, while the government remains silent. Many children can no longer attend school, and communities live in constant fear.
One of the leaders of the protest, who asked not to be named, said the violence has reached a terrifying level. She criticised the silence of both state and federal governments, comparing the situation to regions affected by Boko Haram, where, in her words, “even terrorists do not enter homes to kill people like this.”
She added that herdsmen in Apa now move from house to house, committing brutal acts that have created a growing number of widows and orphans. She called on the government to act decisively and end what she described as a humanitarian crisis.
When asked for comment, the Chairman of Apa Local Government Council, Mr. Adams Ocheiga, declined to respond.
