Protesters block Makurdi–Abuja road over killing of Catholic choir leader, farmers

Residents of Achakpa community in Benue State staged a massive protest on Saturday after suspected herdsmen launched a deadly attack that left several people dead and others unaccounted for.

Hundreds of demonstrators stormed the Makurdi–Abuja highway near the Garba–Atson–Abagena IDP camp, blocking traffic for hours with placards, tree branches, and chants demanding justice.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of September 20 on the outskirts of Achakpa along the North Bank–Lafia road, claimed the lives of a farmer, Tor Felafa, his son, and Mr. Francis Kulegwa, the senior choirmaster at Daudu Mission under the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi.

According to residents, the victims were ambushed while working on their farms—an attack pattern the assailants allegedly used after monitoring agricultural activity in the area. Several villagers were abducted, while many others narrowly escaped. Some remain missing.

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Benue State, often described as Nigeria’s “Food Basket,” has endured years of bloody clashes between farmers and herders, resulting in widespread displacement, destruction, and repeated calls for stronger security measures in rural areas.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Benue State Government nor the Police Command had issued an official statement on the incident.