Taraba Women and Children Block Roads in Protest Over Killing of Two Youths

Anger and grief swept through Rafin-Kada community in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State on Wednesday as women and children staged a mass protest following the killing of two young men by suspected militia.

The demonstrators, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, blocked major roads in the town, demanding justice and urgent government action to end the violence.

Community members said insecurity along the Wukari–Rafin-Kada road has worsened in recent months, with repeated attacks claiming lives and leaving residents in constant fear. Eyewitnesses told reporters the protesters vowed not to vacate the roads until authorities respond with decisive measures to protect travellers and residents.

The protest came a day after two young men — Basho Ahmadu Danpada and Lemurga Danladi — were ambushed while travelling from Rafin-Kada to Wukari. They were reportedly dragged into the bush by armed men and later found shot dead.

Community leaders joined calls for urgent intervention, urging both the Taraba State Government and the Federal Government to deploy more security operatives to restore peace and stability in southern Taraba.

“This community has endured too much. People can no longer travel freely. The government must act now,” one elder said.

Residents described the killings as the latest flashpoint in long-standing insecurity in the region, warning that continued silence from authorities could deepen frustration and unrest.