Women protest half-naked in Ondo

Disturbed by the escalating insecurity in the Akoko area of Ondo State, a group of concerned women, many of them elderly, staged a peaceful protest, with some partially naked, to condemn the ongoing violent killings and kidnappings by suspected herdsmen.

The protest came in the wake of the brutal murder of a farmer, Sunday Ayeni, who was killed on his land after a disagreement with herdsmen who had invaded and destroyed his crops. His lifeless body, along with that of his hunting dog, was discovered by a search party over the weekend.

The women marched through the streets to express their deep distress over the frequent killings, kidnappings, and destruction of their farmlands by armed bandits. Fearing further attacks, many farmers have abandoned their lands.

During a security meeting held at the palace of the Olubaka of Oka, a prominent traditional ruler, the women, some without head coverings, demanded justice for the victims of these ongoing attacks.

Abigail Ojo, a spokesperson for the women, claimed that some of the suspected herdsmen had raped them on their farms and destroyed their crops. She emphasized that they had abandoned their farms and were resolute in not returning until adequate security measures were in place.

“We cannot tolerate these senseless killings any longer. This must stop,” she declared in the local language, appealing to security agencies for help in finding lasting solutions.

In response, the traditional ruler, Mr. Adeleye, assured that the security situation in the community was being addressed by the relevant state security agencies. However, he requested some time to allow these agencies to find lasting solutions to the troubling situation.