Anger erupted in Gashish community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday as women residents destroyed a military checkpoint in protest against continued attacks and worsening insecurity in the area.
The protest, which drew a large crowd of women, was sparked by repeated violent incidents that have left several residents dead and others displaced.
The demonstrators accused security operatives deployed to the community of failing to stop the attacks despite their presence.
During the protest, the women vandalised the military checkpoint, expressing frustration over what they described as the persistent inability of security forces to protect lives and property in the area.
Many of them lamented that they had continued to bury loved ones despite the security presence.
Eyewitnesses said the protesters chanted and demanded urgent government intervention, insisting that the situation had become unbearable for families in the community.
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One of the protesters, Mercy Dachung, said residents were exhausted by repeated killings, questioning the effectiveness of the security deployment in the area. She said the community had continued to suffer losses despite regular calls for help.
Another protester, Nancy Gyang, alleged that security operatives often arrive after attacks have already occurred, describing the situation as unacceptable. She said the destruction of the checkpoint was a result of long-standing frustration.
A women leader in the community, Chundung Bot, also expressed disappointment, saying residents had lost confidence in the security presence. She noted that farming activities had been severely affected and many families had been left devastated by repeated attacks.
The protest comes after fresh violence in parts of Barkin Ladi and neighbouring Riyom Local Government Areas, where gunmen reportedly killed six people in separate night attacks, forcing residents to flee for safety.
Meanwhile, local youth groups in the area have called for justice and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible for the ongoing attacks, while also addressing what they describe as wrongful arrests of community members.
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