Residents of Otukpo and surrounding areas in Benue State staged a protest on Tuesday, blocking the Otukpo-Enugu Federal Highway to express their frustration over the rising wave of insecurity in the region. Chanting slogans like “We no go gree! We no go gree!” the protesters demanded urgent intervention from the government and security agencies to address the escalating cases of robbery, killings, and kidnappings in their communities.
One of the protesters, identified as Dan, stated that the youths took to the streets due to the worsening security situation, particularly in the Asa community. “Since the start of the year, incidents of robbery, kidnapping, and killings have surged in Otukpo. The government is doing nothing to stop it,” he said. “Just last week, gunmen invaded the Asa community, raiding homes, stealing valuables, and abducting a woman. Only yesterday (Monday), a man named Akatu Onche was murdered in his home. Since these attacks continue without any action from authorities, we decided to protest.”
Another protester, Madam Christy, called on the state government to step in immediately. “The government must deploy more security personnel to Otukpo and its environs to curb this growing insecurity,” she urged. The protest drew a large crowd, leading to a road blockade that caused major traffic disruptions.
When contacted, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed that the road had been cleared but stated that he was in a security meeting and could not provide further details. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, said she had not yet received an official report on the situation.
“I’ve seen posts on Facebook about it, but I tried reaching the Divisional Police Officer in Otukpo, and he hasn’t answered his phone,” she said.
Source : https://punchng.com/
