The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 14 individuals following a violent incident during a youth-led protest in Makurdi on Sunday.
The demonstration, which began peacefully, was reportedly hijacked by disruptive elements who set a truck ablaze in the Apir area on the outskirts of the city, with the yet-to-be-identified driver trapped inside.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Catherine Udeme Edet, the police condemned the escalation of violence and assured the public that the arrested suspects would be prosecuted. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend others involved in the incident.
“The Benue State Police Command acknowledges a public demonstration that took place on Sunday, 15th June 2025, when individuals gathered at Wurukum Roundabout, Makurdi, to express grievances over recent security concerns in the state,” the statement read.
While emphasizing that the right to peaceful protest is protected, the police stressed that such activities must remain lawful and non-violent.
Upon receiving intelligence about the protest, tactical teams were deployed to maintain order.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, alongside the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Barr. John Ode, visited the protest site to engage with demonstrators and appeal for calm.
However, the crowd reportedly refused to be addressed and the protest was soon overtaken by agitators who attempted to attack the deputy governor.
Police intervened using non-lethal crowd control methods, including smoke and water cannons, to de-escalate the situation and evacuate the deputy governor safely.
No injuries were recorded during the intervention.
Later, a separate group of hoodlums, allegedly sympathetic to the protest, blocked a roadway in Apir, stopped a moving truck, and set it on fire with the driver still inside.
The victim’s identity remains unknown as of press time.
The command reiterated its commitment to upholding citizens’ rights to protest peacefully but condemned the turn to violence, destruction, and lawlessness.
It also affirmed that all those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.