Benue IDPs Protest on Benue–Nasarawa Highway, Demand Safe Return to Ancestral Villages
By Myra Chinonso, Senior Reporter, SpringnewsNG Media Limited
July 30, 2025
Traffic along the Yelwata axis of the Benue–Nasarawa highway was brought to a complete halt on Wednesday after Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Benue State staged a mass protest, demanding an immediate return to their ancestral homes.
The demonstrators, believed to be victims of repeated armed herdsmen attacks, occupied both lanes of the busy inter-state highway for several hours, chanting “We want to go back home!” and holding placards.
Protest Causes Gridlock
The protest left hundreds of motorists and passengers stranded for hours, with long queues of vehicles stretching across the highway. Eyewitnesses said the IDPs, many of whom have spent years in overcrowded camps, expressed anger over government inaction on their resettlement and the restoration of security in their villages.
“We have suffered enough. Our farms are abandoned, and our children have no proper future in the camps. We want to return to our homes and continue our lives,” said Tersoo Aluga, one of the protesters.
Security Deployment
Security operatives, including police and military personnel, were deployed to the area to monitor the protest and prevent it from escalating into violence. Tensions, however, remained high as the demonstrators vowed not to leave the highway until their voices were heard.
Calls for Government Action
The IDPs are urging the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to provide lasting security in their communities, resettle displaced families, and allow them to reclaim their farmlands, which have been abandoned due to years of insecurity.
Efforts to get a response from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant authorities were unsuccessful as of press time.
