On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Benue State staged a protest by blocking both lanes of the busy Benue–Nasarawa highway at the Yelewata axis for several hours. The protesters, victims of persistent attacks by suspected herdsmen, chanted “We want to go back home” as they expressed deep frustration with prolonged displacement and the government’s failure to restore security to their communities.
The protest caused significant disruption, leaving hundreds of motorists and passengers stranded. Many of the displaced persons have been living in overcrowded IDP camps for years and demand immediate safe return to their ancestral homes and farms. Security personnel were deployed to monitor the situation and prevent escalation, though tensions remained high as of the latest reports.
The displaced people lament what they regard as government neglect and inadequate relief materials. They emphasize that after suffering hardship and loss, it is preferable to return to their homes rather than remain displaced.
Efforts to obtain official comments from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant authorities were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
This protest highlights the continuing humanitarian and security crisis in Benue State, underscoring the urgent need for effective government intervention to end violence and enable displaced families to rebuild their lives in safety.
READ ALSO: WINU Demands Justice Over Gruesome Killings of Igbo Youths in Imo, Calls for Asari Dokubo’s Arrest