Hundreds of youths from Sarkin Noma village in Keana Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, blocked the Lafia-Makurdi highway on Friday to protest a surge in attacks, killings, and kidnappings by armed men in their community.
A youth leader, Ogu Iliya, told journalists that the protest was intended to draw urgent attention from authorities and demand intervention.
He explained that around midnight, about 50 armed men reportedly invaded the village, firing sporadically and abducting an elderly resident, Mathew Anzaku. In the attempt to repel the attackers, two youths, identified only as Adgizi and Godiya, were shot dead.
Iliya lamented that the latest incident marked the 12th attack on the community in recent times, leaving residents living in constant fear.
“Any resident who sells farm produce and returns from the market at night is at risk. These gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, kidnap people and demand ransom before releasing them. It has become unbearable. The elderly man taken last night is still missing, and we don’t know his condition,” he said.
During the protest, the angry youths reportedly carried the corpses of the two slain victims to the highway, halting traffic for several hours.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, said security operatives, led by the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Mohammed Jauro, had been deployed to restore order in the area.