Youths Block Lafia-Makurdi Road After Deadly Nasarawa Attack

Youths from Sarkin Noma community in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Friday barricaded the Lafia-Makurdi highway to protest repeated attacks by gunmen, which have led to killings and kidnappings in the area.

The protesters, who halted vehicular movement for several hours, were reacting to a midnight invasion of the community by suspected armed men. During the attack, an elderly resident, identified as Mr. Mathew Anzaku, was abducted, while two youths, identified as Adgizi and Godiya, were shot dead as community members tried to repel the assailants.

A youth leader, Ogu Iliya, said the community had suffered at least 12 similar attacks in recent months, leaving residents in fear and distress.

“This has become unbearable. People are being kidnapped, killed, or forced to pay huge ransoms. The elderly man taken last night is still missing. We need urgent government intervention,” Iliya said.

The protesters reportedly placed the bodies of the two slain youths on the road to draw attention to their demands for improved security.

Spokesperson of the Nasarawa Police Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, said the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Mohammed Jauro, had deployed security personnel to the area to restore calm and begin investigations into the incident.