The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Olufemi Oloyede, has temporarily relocated to Benue State, following the killings of innocent people in the state.
His relocation was as women in the troubled Apa Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday filed out in their numbers to protest the killings by armed herdsmen in the town.
They filed out to the major road of Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa LG, expressing anguish over the escalating attacks in the council.
In recent times, some communities such as Ijaha Ikobi, Edikwu-Ankpali and Odugbo have witnessed attacks leading to the killings of several people, with 25 people reportedly killed on Sunday in Apa.
Also, there were recent attacks on the Agan Community in Makurdi on May 29, 2025, and deadly assaults on the Naka and Edikwu-Ankpali communities in Gwer West on June 1.
Upon arrival, the COAS held a closed-door meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House, Makurdi.
Alia told traditional rulers and members of the security council about the purpose of the visit of the army chief.
“The Chief of Army Staff has brought a message of hope to the people of Benue in the face of the renewed unprovoked attacks and killings perpetrated by armed herders,” he said.
He assured the people that the Federal Government has intensified efforts to address the situation.
In attendance at the meeting were the Tor-Tiv, Prof James Ayaste, Och’idoma, Dr John Eliagwu, represented by the Ad’Enone, Chief George Edeh, first class chiefs, third class chiefs, commissioner of police, state commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, among others.
Leading a protest on Tuesday, the Apa women, under the aegis of Voice of the Hopeless Women, demanded the withdrawal of soldiers deployed in their area, accusing them of complicity.
During their protest on Tuesday, the women wrote a letter in which they expressed deep pain over what they described as relentless and targeted attacks on their families, homes, and farmlands.
The protesting mothers carried placards with inscriptions such as “Stop killing our men”, “We are now widows not by choice”, and “Enough is Enough.”
“We have been triggered by their entrance into our farms, homes, and rooms to kill and destroy our children, husbands, and dear loved ones, including fellow women.
“Today, our children can hardly go to school, our lives are in danger, our future in shambles,” the letter read.
They asked the Federal Government to allow their youths to protect them, instead of the soldiers.
They claimed that most of the attacks were carried out near military formations in the area.
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in the local government and a legal practitioner, Ada Ocholi, described the protest as peaceful.
He accused soldiers deployed to the area for the protection of complicit and supported the call by the women for their withdrawal.
He said, “The women are right because soldiers have not helped to bring the insecurity under control.
“There were instances when soldiers just looked away anytime these armed herders attacked our people.”
When contacted, the LG Chairman, Adams Ocheiga, said he was not in the council and could not say if there was a protest or not.
“Sorry, I am not in the mood to talk to journalists now, and besides, I am not in Apa and I don’t know if there is a protest going on there,” Ocheiga said.
Meanwhile, a professor of Law Practice, Sebastine Hon (SAN), called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of military emergency in Benue State.
The legal luminary, in a petition forwarded to the President, highlighted the urgent need for decisive intervention to restore peace and stability in the state.
The petition dated June 2, 2025, and was made available to journalists in Makurdi, on Tuesday.
The petition criticized Governor Hyacinth Alia for dismissing ongoing deadly attacks as mere “skirmishes” and failing to respond appropriately.
The petition cited recent attacks on the Agan Community in Makurdi on May 29, 2025, and deadly assaults on Naka and Edikwu-Ankpali communities in Gwer West and Apa LGs on June 1, 2025, alongside numerous fatalities with no official condemnation or action from the government.
Pro Hon expressed outrage over the governor’s dismissive social media responses, which he described as unhelpful and negligent of the suffering of victims.
Hon also detailed his efforts, including a joint letter to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the State Security Services, which spotlighted the failures in military and paramilitary operations.
“Unfortunately, these efforts have yet to yield tangible results, as recent attacks continue unabated,” he said.
He noted the military had deployed drones and fighter jets to combat insecurity in other parts of Nigeria, adding that Benue was not considered for such efforts.
Efforts to get the response of the military over the accusation of soldiers ‘ complicit in the recent attacks by the protesting women in Apa LG were not successful, as calls made to the acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 401 SF Bde/Sector 1 Operation Whirl Stroke, Capt Abdulahi Osabo, rang out.
The army spokesman did not also respond to messages sent to his cellphone as of the time of filing this report.(Punch)
