Members of the Benue Motorcycle Association and the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Gwer-West Local Government Area staged a significant protest on Monday, expressing their outrage over the persistent attacks and murders of their colleagues by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen.
The protest took place in Naka, the headquarters of Gwer-West, where the Makurdi-Naka-Ankpa Federal Highway was rendered impassable for several hours as the transport union workers blocked the road.
This disruption was a desperate measure to draw attention to the alarming rate of violence that has affected both their members and commuters in the region.
Angry protesters carried placards with various messages, including “Stop killing Us,” “Govt should come to our Aid,” and “Put checkpoints on flash points,” underscoring their demand for immediate government action to ensure their safety.
The demonstration culminated in a march to the Division Police Office and the office of the Gwer-West LGA chairman in Naka Town, where they sought to convey their grievances directly to local authorities.
The Chairman of BEMOA’s Naka branch, Mathew Kwaghza, spoke somberly about the toll the violence has taken, revealing that they have lost at least 37 members and over 67 motorcycles on the Makurdi-Naka-Ankpa federal highway in just the past two months.
This staggering loss has left the community reeling and fearful for their safety.
In a related statement, the Chairman of the Gwer-West branch of NURTW, Numba Tyogema, highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the union has directed its members to avoid the dangerous highway altogether.
“With the incessant attacks on motorists plying the road, we have advised our members to use alternative routes within and outside the council pending the intervention of government and security agencies,” Tyogema explained.
The protest reflects a growing frustration among transport workers in the region as they seek urgent measures to address the escalating violence and restore safety to the roads they rely on for their livelihoods.
