Violent Killings and Rape Allegations Spark Protest in Ondo State
In a shocking display of distress and defiance, a group of elderly women in Ondo State, Nigeria, staged a peaceful protest to condemn the increasing violence and killings by suspected herdsmen in their community. The protest, which saw some of the women partially dressed, was sparked by the brutal murder of a local farmer, Sunday Ayeni, who was killed on his land after a disagreement with herdsmen.
According to eyewitnesses, the protest took place shortly after Ayeni’s corpse, along with his hunting dog, was discovered by a search party over the weekend. The discovery has led to widespread fear among farmers, who have been forced to abandon their farmlands due to concerns about further attacks.
The women, who are mostly elderly, marched through the streets to express their outrage over the frequent killings, kidnappings, and destruction of their farmlands. During a security meeting at the palace of the Olubaka of Oka, Adebori Adeleye, the women demanded justice for the victims of the attacks and urged the security agencies to take immediate action to protect them.
The spokeswoman of the group, Mrs Abigail Ojo, alleged that suspected herdsmen had raped some of the women on their farms and destroyed their crops. She said that the women had abandoned their farms and would not return until there was adequate security and protection for them.
“We cannot tolerate these senseless killings any longer. All of this has to stop,” Ojo said, appealing to the security agencies to assist in finding a lasting solution to the problem.
Responding to the concerns, the traditional ruler, Mr Adeleye, assured the women that the security situation in the community was being addressed by the relevant security agencies.
