Makurdi, Benue State — Widespread protests broke out in Makurdi on Friday following the killing of a 23-year-old final-year student, Emmanuella Ahenjir, by police officers at the Wurukum roundabout.
Ahenjir, a student of the Federal University, Wukari, was reportedly shot while traveling in a vehicle from the Gyado Villa area of Makurdi. Eyewitnesses said police personnel opened fire on the vehicle under unclear circumstances. The officers allegedly fled the scene immediately after the shooting, leaving passengers and bystanders in shock.
The tragic incident sparked a wave of public outrage, prompting hundreds of students, youth groups, and civil society members to take to the streets in a peaceful demonstration demanding justice and an end to police brutality.
Protesters marched from the Wurukum roundabout — the site of the shooting — through major streets of Makurdi, holding placards with messages such as “Justice for Emmanuella,” “End Police Brutality,” “Stop Killing Our Girls,” and “Our Lives Matter.”
Prominent gender rights activist and social advocate, Ukan Kurugh, who led the protest, condemned the killing and called on the government to act swiftly.
“We are here because a young woman with dreams and a future was cut down unjustly,” Kurugh told reporters. “Emmanuella could have been any of our sisters, daughters, or friends. Her life mattered. This should never have happened.”
Kurugh demanded an independent investigation into the incident and urged the immediate suspension and prosecution of all officers involved.
The protesters later converged at the Benue State Police Command headquarters, where they submitted a petition demanding justice and accountability. Security personnel received the petition and assured that it would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities.
Meanwhile, public condemnation continues to grow across social media and civil rights platforms, with many calling for systemic reform within the Nigeria Police Force to prevent further cases of extrajudicial killings.
The Benue State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of this report.
