From Our Correspondent — Makurdi

‎The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Barr. Sam Ode yesterday Sunday 15th June 2025, escaped attack by angry protesters.

The SUPREME learnt that the angry protesters gathered at Wurukum Roundabout Makurdi, to protest insecurity in the state, especially the gruesome killings of about 200 people at Yelewata by suspected Fulani extremists on Saturday.

We gathered that, when the police command got intelligence regarding the protest, tactical teams were immediately deployed to monitor and maintain order.

Spokesperson of the Command, DSP Udeme Edet who confirmed the incident, said, “the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, in a display of proactive leadership, visited the protest scene alongside the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Barr. Sam Ode, in an effort to engage with the demonstrators and appeal for calm.”
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Unfortunately, the crowd declined to be addressed, and the protest was soon hijacked by disruptive elements who attempted to attack the Deputy Governor (and) Police officers swiftly intervened using non-lethal crowd control measures, including smoke and water cannons, to prevent harm and safely evacuated the Deputy Governor from the scene.”

There was however, no casualties or injuries recorded during the operation.
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We also learnt that, later in the day, a separate group of hoodlums reportedly sympathetic to the protest obstructed a roadway in Apir, an outskirt of Makurdi. They were said to have forcefully stopped a truck, which was subsequently set ablaze with the yet-to-be-identified driver trapped inside.
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‎DSP Udeme confirmed that, “the Command has so far arrested fourteen (14) suspects in connection with these incidents. They will be prosecuted accordingly. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other culprits and instigators behind the violence.”
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‎The situation has now been brought under full control, and peace has been restored.

However, former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Alhaji Atiku Abubakar condemned the killings, saying, “it’s a national tragedy, insecurity in the country is disturbing.”

Also condemning the killings and insecurity in the country, former Governor of Kwara State and one-time Senate President, Saraki said, “The killings are unacceptable. Security agents should apprehend the killers.”

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