“Our Husbands Are Gone” – Protesting Taraba Women Cry Out

By Suleiman Anyalewechi.

Amidst global outcry over the spate of violent attacks and killings rocking some parts of Benue State, North Central Nigeria, hundreds of  Taraba women in the North East, on Tuesday June 17, 2025, stormed the streets to protest against what they described as the unprecedented killing of their husbands.

The women from the Munga Lelau area of  Karim Lamido Local Government  of the State, were protesting the orgy of deaths and wanton destruction of properties arising from ongoing communal clashes in their area.

The Source reports that Munga Lelau community  in Karim Lamido Council has, of recent, been engulfed by an internecine communal violence involving Fulani  herders and Christian farmers with no fewer than 45 persons killed in the three weeks

Dressed in an all black  attire, the protesting women marched several kilometers from their Munga Lelau community to the Headquarters of Karim Lamido Council to register their grievances.

With placards of varying inscriptions, the women called for an urgent action by all relevant authorities to halt the ongoing communal clashes which they said have claimed the lives of most of their spouses.

Spokesperson for the protesters, Rejoice Ishmael Sunday, specifically called on the Government to halt  the movement and activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The women likened the ongoing situation in their community to a genocide, with their people being murdered in their sleep by marauding herdsmen.

This is just as they accused security agencies of being complicit in the attacks and killings.

“We are being killed in our sleep. Our husbands are gone. We are crying out for help. Let the Government protect us by deploying more security to stop this bloodshed”, the women stated.

While addressing the women, the Chairman of the Local Council, Bitrus Danjos, praised them for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves, assuring to urgently deliver their message to the appropriate authorities

Meanwhile, he reaffirmed the readiness of the Council to work in concert with security  agencies and community leaders to foster peace and security

Curiously, however, the Police fired several canisters of tear gas to forcefully disperse them, citing the absence of prior notice as reason for their action