Women in the Akoko Southwest council area of Ondo State staged a peaceful protest half-naked on Tuesday to condemn the rising violence by suspected herdsmen in their community.
The protest followed the brutal murder of a farmer, Sunday Ayeni, by suspected herdsmen. The community has been on edge since the killing, and farmers have abandoned their fields out of fear.
The farm of the deceased was reportedly destroyed by herdsmen who let their cattle graze on it. The herdsmen were identified, and compensation was paid after intervention from security agents and community leaders. However, the herdsmen were angered by this decision and allegedly retaliated by attacking Ayeni. His body was later found by a search party.
During the protest, the women demanded justice for Ayeni and an end to the violence. They marched to the palace of the Olubaka of Oka, Oba Adebori Adeleye, where a security meeting was taking place. They were half-naked and without head ties.
The spokesperson for the protesting women, Mrs. Abigail Ojo, said, “The suspected herdsmen raped some of our women on their farmlands and destroyed our crops. We have had to abandon our farms because of the attacks. We need security agencies to help us find lasting solutions to our problems.”
In response, Oba Adebori Adeleye assured the women that the security situation in the community is being handled by relevant agencies. He asked for more time to allow the security forces to address the issues effectively.
