Thousands of students from the University of Jos staged a peaceful solidarity walk yesterday to protest the mass killings in Benue and other parts of the North-Central.
The protest, which began at 10:00 AM at the university’s permanent site (Naraguta campus) main gate, drew a large crowd of students and members of the public, many dressed in black to mourn the victims. Holding placards and chanting solidarity songs, the demonstrators called for justice, protection of lives, and an end to the violence.
Organised in collaboration with the National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), the protest aimed to highlight what organisers described as “ethnic cleansing,” “land grabbing,” and the targeted attacks on farming communities.
A memo announcing the event was signed by NUBESS president, Kangyang J. Pwajok and secretary, Dauda Jonathan Shupkuk. It condemned the widespread killings across Benue, Plateau and other North-Central states, especially the recent massacre in Yelwata, Guma LGA of Benue where over 200 people were reportedly killed.
“We rise in unity and grief,” the memo read, “This walk is more than a protest, it is a demand for justice and a call to end these atrocities. We urge all participants to wear black in honour of the victims.”
The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) also joined the protest, carrying banners with bold messages like “Stop Killing Farmers!”, “Land Reform Now!”, and “Mass Mobilisation to End Attacks on Farming Communities.”
