Tension in Benue as youths set ablaze LG secretariat, traditional ruler’s palace

A violent protest erupted in Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State on Tuesday morning, as enraged youths set ablaze the Local Government Secretariat in Naka and the palace of the Gwer West Traditional Council Chairman, His Royal Highness Daniel Abomtse.

The unrest was triggered by the alleged killing of three members of the Civil Protection Guards by suspected armed herdsmen on Monday.

The attack, which occurred in a remote area of the LGA, reportedly left the community in shock and fueled long-standing tensions over insecurity in the region.

Eyewitnesses reported that the protest began around 7:00 a.m. when the bodies of the slain security personnel were brought to Naka for burial.

The sight of the victims’ remains further incited anger among the youths, who took to the streets to demand justice and immediate government intervention against the persistent herdsmen attacks.

What started as a peaceful demonstration quickly spiraled out of control, as hoodlums allegedly hijacked the protest, leading to widespread destruction.

Properties worth millions of naira were set on fire, including the Local Government Secretariat, the traditional ruler’s palace, and a hotel belonging to Senator Titus Zam, the lawmaker representing Benue North West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

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Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Victor Omirin, stated that while the demonstration initially remained peaceful, it later escalated into violence as miscreants took advantage of the chaos.

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He expressed deep concern over the destruction of government and private properties.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har, also acknowledged the destruction but said he could not yet confirm if the slain individuals were indeed members of the Civil Protection Guards, as investigations were still ongoing.

Meanwhile, HRH Daniel Abomtse, who was away on medical grounds at the time of the incident, confirmed that his palace was completely razed, with valuables including vehicles and motorcycles destroyed.

In response to the crisis, the Benue State Police Command has deployed tactical teams to restore calm in the area.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Catherine Anene, assured residents that efforts were being made to contain the situation and prevent further breakdown of law and order.

“As soon as we received reports of the incident, the Commissioner of Police ordered the immediate deployment of tactical teams to restore peace and security in the affected areas.

Investigations have also commenced to identify the perpetrators of these acts of violence,” Anene stated.

The latest unrest in Gwer West LGA highlights the growing frustration among local communities over security challenges in Benue State. Residents have repeatedly called on the government to take decisive action against the escalating violence attributed to suspected herdsmen.

As security forces work to restore normalcy, authorities face mounting pressure to address the root causes of the conflict and prevent further clashes in the region.