On Wednesday, the busy Benue–Nasarawa highway came to a halt as a group of internally displaced persons (IDPs) took to the road, voicing their desperate need to return to their beloved homes. Their protest was a heartfelt plea for safety, stability, and the ability to reclaim their lives after years of suffering.

The protesters, many of whom have endured relentless attacks from suspected herdsmen, blocked both lanes of the highway for hours, passionately chanting, “We want to go back home," a cry that echoes their longing to reunite with their lost homes and farms.

This sit-in left many stranded, creating chaos for drivers and passengers caught in the standstill. Witnesses described the protesters as individuals who have been confined to overcrowded IDP camps, their faces marked with frustration and hope intertwined. They expressed a shared sense of exhaustion, insisting they can no longer endure the insecurity and displacement.

One protester shared with reporters, "We have suffered enough. We just want to go back home and tend our farms, raise our children, and reclaim our lives."

Security personnel were dispatched to keep the peace, but tensions stayed high as emotions ran deep. Efforts to get comments from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency and other authorities proved unsuccessful at the time.

This display of resilience highlights the urgent need for lasting peace and effective action to bring displaced families home.

ASA