Angry youths dressed in black blocked the Abuja-Makurdi highway on June 15, protesting the killing of over 200 people in Yelewata community by suspected armed herders. The demonstrators, carrying palm fronds and placards, created gridlock for hours while demanding government action, despite official warnings against protests.
• Protest follows third major attack in Guma LGA within a week
• Palm fronds symbolized both mourning and traditional distress signals
• The state government had banned protests, citing security concerns
Why do highways become protest sites? This blockade mirrors a growing pattern across Nigeria where citizens weaponize economic arteries to force attention to ignored crises. The palm fronds - traditional symbols of both victory and mourning - reveal the protesters' dual message: they grieve the dead but won't surrender silently. When formal channels fail, the road becomes their megaphone.
