February 26, (THEWILL) – Tension gripped Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Wednesday as restive youths barricaded roads leading to the Ministry of Justice, the venue for the Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal.
The protesters set up bonfires with tires and logs, disrupting access to the tribunal.
In response, operatives from the Zone 4 Police Command took positions at five key entry points around the venue to provide security for judges, litigants, and other stakeholders.
Teargas was fired at the protesters near Tito Youth Junction in an attempt to disperse them, but they remained defiant.
Several motorcycles were seized and transported to the police headquarters in Makurdi.
Meanwhile, the Chief Registrar of the Benue State High Court, Franka Iwar, dismissed rumors that the tribunal sittings had been suspended.
In a letter addressed to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo branches, Iwar clarified that the tribunal proceedings were ongoing at their designated venues.
She stated that after the tribunal sitting was disrupted by thugs on February 19, 2025, the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, reported the incident to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 4, Makurdi, who has since taken over security at the High Court of Justice.
The letter urged the public to disregard any information suggesting the tribunal had been suspended.
When our correspondent visited the High Court premises, Justice A.I. Tyonyiman, along with two other judges, was presiding over cases from Zone A, while counsels presented their motions.
At Court 7, where petitions from Zone C were being heard, Justices M.M. Odinya, E. Azembe, and T. Alashi were in full session with legal representatives and litigants.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Sewuese Anene, for comments were unsuccessful, as her line was unreachable at the time of filing this report.
