By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
There was heightened tension in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area on Friday as aggrieved youths took to the streets and shut down sections of the federal highway in protest against worsening insecurity in the area.
The youths, chanting protest songs and displaying placards with strong inscriptions, said the action became inevitable following the continued kidnapping, killing, abduction, and maiming of residents and travelers along major roads and within rural communities.
According to the protesters, the people of Kabba/Bunu have been taken for granted for far too long, describing the situation as one where innocent citizens are treated as expendable in their own land while criminal elements operate freely.
They accused those in positions of authority of abandoning governance for political scheming ahead of the 2027 general elections, alleging that while political ambitions dominate public discourse, graves continue to multiply quietly across communities.
âThis is not just failure, it is betrayal,â one of the protesters said.
âA government that swore to protect lives and property has chosen to turn a deaf ear to the daily cries of the people.â
The youths lamented that leaders only remember the electorate during elections but disappear when bullets fly and kidnappers roam unchecked, describing such conduct as disgraceful and heartless.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Prince Orebiyi Emmanuel Taiwo warned against silence in the face of injustice, citing civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who described silence in an unjust society as a crime.
He stressed that indifference has become an accomplice to insecurity and that the people can no longer afford to remain quiet.
Residents who spoke during the protest said the persistent insecurity has crippled farming, trading, and transportation in the area.
Many farmers revealed that they now abandon their farmlands for fear of attacks, while traders and commuters lamented declining economic activities due to the unsafe highway.
Some community elders, while expressing sympathy with the youths, appealed for calm and urged that the protest remain peaceful.
They emphasized that the grievances raised are genuine but cautioned against actions that could further escalate tensions.
The protesters demanded the immediate deployment of more security personnel to affected areas, sustained patrols on highways and forest routes, improved intelligence gathering, and stronger collaboration with local vigilante groups familiar with the terrain.
Motorists stranded by the road blockade expressed mixed reactions, with some condemning the disruption while others described the protest as justified.
âThis road has become a death trap. If closing it today will bring attention, then so be it,â a commuter said.
The youths warned that the protest was only a wake-up call, insisting that failure by the authorities to respond decisively could result in sustained civil actions.
They maintained that their agitation was not politically motivated but driven by the urgent need to protect lives and restore peace.
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives were monitoring the situation, while residents called on the state and federal governments to act swiftly to prevent further loss of lives and restore public confidence.
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