Outcry in Makurdi: VeryDarkMan Joins Thousands of Benue Youths Protesting Mass Killings Amid Teargas Assault

 

The city of Makurdi, capital of Benue State, bore witness to a powerful wave of grief and defiance on Sunday as thousands of youths poured onto the streets, demanding an end to a brutal series of killings plaguing their communities. Unified by sorrow and steeled by anger, the demonstrators shut down the Abuja-Makurdi highway, a vital transit artery, in a dramatic bid to force the government’s attention toward the plight of their people.

The protest was triggered by the latest massacre in the Yelewata community of Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 individuals were reportedly murdered within the previous 24 hours. With the air still thick from the smoke of burnt homes and the cries of mourning families, the young people took to the streets dressed entirely in black, waving placards and palm fronds—symbols of peace turned into pleas for justice.

Social media lit up when Vincent Martins Otse, the well-known activist and internet sensation famously called VeryDarkMan, arrived at the scene. Known for his fearless commentary and advocacy online, Otse’s appearance signaled a significant shift—bringing a national spotlight onto what had largely been a regional tragedy.

“These are not just numbers; they are fathers, mothers, children,” he said in a tense livestream while standing among the crowd. “They are human beings, and they deserve justice, not teargas.”

The protest, initially marked by calm and cohesion, took a dark turn when security forces attempted to clear the highway. Without prior warning, officers reportedly discharged canisters of teargas into the crowd. Panic erupted as peaceful demonstrators scrambled for safety. The scent of the gas mixed with the cries of pain and confusion as some collapsed or suffered minor injuries in the fray.

Eyewitnesses described the escalation as sudden and unprovoked. One protester, who declined to give her name, said, “We were just standing and chanting. Then they came. We didn’t even get a chance to move before the gas came down on us like rain.”

Footage from the scene, later shared by Otse on his social platforms, showed a cloud of white smoke engulfing parts of the crowd, with individuals coughing violently and stumbling through the haze. Several videos quickly went viral, drawing outrage from Nigerians both at home and abroad.

The state of insecurity in Benue, long regarded as the "Food Basket of the Nation," has worsened over the years, particularly in rural communities vulnerable to violent attacks. Guma, the local government area of the latest tragedy, has repeatedly come under assault by yet-to-be-identified armed groups. Despite multiple public appeals and reports, authorities have been accused of inaction or, worse, deliberate silence.

The protest in Makurdi was not just a spontaneous reaction to a single event. It reflected years of built-up frustration, a collective scream from a people who feel abandoned. While some local officials attempted to address the crowd earlier in the day, their words were drowned out by chants of “We want justice!” and “Stop the killings!”

Otse's presence was more than symbolic. His sharp condemnation of the government's tactics struck a chord with many who have followed his rise from digital influencer to social crusader. “What I saw today was heartbreaking,” he told viewers. “When a government deploys force against its own people for demanding to live in peace, then the problem is not just about security. It’s about priorities, and clearly, the lives of these young Nigerians are not one of them.”

Calls for a formal investigation into both the Yelewata killings and the conduct of the security forces at the protest have grown louder. Several civil rights organizations have echoed Otse’s sentiments, demanding accountability and immediate action.

No official statement from the Benue State Government or federal authorities had been released at the time of reporting.

As night fell on Makurdi, many protesters regrouped, some nursing injuries but none wavering in their resolve. With the smell of teargas still lingering in the air and the weight of over 200 deaths pressing on their hearts, they remained unified in their demand: that the world hear them—and that the killing of their people finally comes to an end.