Community Protests Against Alleged Unlawful Arrests
Dozens of women from the Agan community, located just a few kilometers from Makurdi—the capital of Benue State—held a protest on Friday. They expressed their frustration over what they described as the arbitrary arrest of young men by security forces in the area. The women accused security agents of harassing and detaining youths without providing any explanation or justification for their actions.
This demonstration comes in the wake of a tragic incident where two travelers from Kano State were reportedly killed in the Agan community by unknown individuals. The event has heightened tensions within the local population, who feel that the security situation is deteriorating.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State addressed the issue through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, announcing that five suspects had been arrested in connection with the killings. Despite this development, the women gathered on Friday to voice their concerns about the ongoing arrests of young men in their community.
Nguyan Afatyo, one of the protesters, highlighted the growing number of arrests in recent days. She expressed her anguish, stating, “Many of our children have been arrested in the past few days. Security men just swoop on this community and take away our youths without telling us why.”
Another protester, Mimido Kwaghfan, urged the security forces to stop the daily arrests. She said, “The security operatives should please stop these daily arrests. They have been picking our children for no reason. We need help.”
In response to the protests, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, issued a statement emphasizing that the police are conducting targeted operations aimed at identifying and apprehending criminals while restoring peace in the region. He advised residents against participating in demonstrations, warning that such actions could interfere with ongoing security efforts.
Edet explained that the Benue State Police Command is carrying out operations across the state to combat crime and ensure the safety of lives and property. He noted that these operations have already yielded results, including the arrest of suspects and the destruction of criminal hideouts in several areas such as Apa, Guma, Gwer West, and Sankera.
He further warned that organizing protests at this time could divert police resources and attention away from their primary mission. “Assembling people for protests at this time distracts the police from engaging criminals. Logistic attention would shift to protecting protesters, thereby creating room for criminality to thrive. Also, such gatherings could be hijacked by hoodlums to perpetrate mayhem.”
The police command emphasized that the current clearance operations are in their final phase and are being conducted in collaboration with other security agencies. They also mentioned that these efforts have the full support of the state government and other stakeholders.
They called on members of the public to assist in these operations by providing useful information rather than engaging in actions that could hinder progress. The police urged the community to remain patient and cooperative as they work towards achieving long-term security and stability in the region.
