"We Are Tired of Watching Our People Die": VeryDarkMan Joins Youth Protest Over Killings in Benue
By Wafric - Featured
WafricNews – June 15, 2025
Makurdi, Benue State – Angry and grieving, hundreds of young people stormed the streets of Makurdi on Sunday morning, demanding justice and immediate government intervention after yet another deadly attack in Yelwata, Benue State.
The protest followed a brutal assault on Saturday, where suspected herdsmen invaded the farming community, leaving scores feared dead, including women, children, and the elderly.
By 8 a.m., demonstrators had gathered at the iconic Wurukum Food Basket Roundabout, turning the landmark into a loud call for action. The rally drew even more attention when prominent activist and social media influencer Martin Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan, arrived to join the demonstrators.
“We can’t keep watching our mothers and fathers slaughtered in their homes,” said Solomon Amande, one of the protest leaders. “We are tired of the silence. Where is the President? Where is our governor?”
The protesters carried placards with messages like “Enough is Enough”, “Stop the Killings”, and “Benue Bleeds”, as they chanted against what they described as government inaction.
When Benue State Deputy Governor Sam Ode attempted to address the crowd, he was turned away. The youths demanded the Governor, Hyacinth Alia, come in person to face the people.
“Let him come here and look us in the eye,” one protester shouted. “We buried people yesterday. We will not be silenced.”
Tensions escalated when armed police and military personnel moved in to disperse the gathering. Tear gas canisters were fired, scattering some protesters but further fuelling outrage among others who vowed not to back down.
Despite the crackdown, many remained on the scene, regrouping and refusing to be intimidated. Some were seen wiping their eyes from the tear gas while continuing to raise their voices.
The protest reflects growing frustration in Benue over persistent attacks on farming communities, often blamed on armed herders, which have left countless families displaced, villages destroyed, and trust in government protection severely eroded.
In recent years, Benue has become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s herder-farmer conflict, with security responses widely seen as insufficient or delayed.
“We’re not asking for miracles,” said another protester. “We’re asking for security. We’re asking to live.”
As dusk approached on Sunday, the chants still echoed through Makurdi. The message from Benue’s youth was clear: they are done waiting for promises—they want protection, justice, and peace.
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