Hundreds of women from Apa Local Government Area in Benue State poured into the streets on Tuesday, their voices a collective cry against the relentless killings plaguing their communities. Their anguish was palpable as they thronged the major road in Ugbokpo, the local government headquarters.
Operating under the poignant banner of “Voice of the Hopeless Women,” the protesters clutched a letter that laid bare their profound pain. It spoke of incessant and targeted assaults on their families, homes, and farmlands, painting a grim picture of daily life.
The women carried placards that conveyed their desperation, bearing messages like, “Stop killing our men,” “We are now widows, not by choice,” and “Enough is enough.” Their powerful display was a direct appeal to the Federal Government, urging immediate intervention to halt the rampant violence sweeping across the state.
Ada Ocholi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the local government and a legal practitioner, described the demonstration as both peaceful and incredibly timely. She highlighted the dire predicament of innocent residents caught in the crossfire of suspected armed herders.
“We’ve been driven to this point by their intrusion into our farms, our homes, and even our rooms,” the women’s letter partly read. “They come to kill and destroy our children, our husbands, and our dearly loved ones, including our fellow women.” The plea continued, painting a stark reality: “Today, our children can hardly go to school, our lives are in danger, and our future is in shambles.” Their desperate voices echoed the shared trauma of a community yearning for peace.
