Women and female farmers from the Ekakpamre community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State protested on Tuesday the incessant attacks and gang raping of women by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Weilding fresh leaves and placards with inscriptions such as “We do not want cows in our bush” “They graze on our land and “We are being raped and chased from our farms”, the protesters, mostly aged, accused security agencies of supporting the herdsmen against them.
Mrs. Loveth Boyi, the Leader of the protesters, while speaking to newsmen, said, “For over 3 years now, Fulani herdsmen have been troubling us, chasing us from our farmlands.
“Just last week, five women were raped on their farms, and as a result, we can no longer access our cassava farms, either to plant or harvest.
“The herdsmen will harvest our cassava and other farm produce and give it to their cattle; our husbands are not going to the bush; hence, we are calling on the state and federal governments to rescue us from the shackles of herdsmen in the community.”
An octogenarian, Mama Blacky Raymond, who twisted her knee due to the herdsmen’s attack, stressed that she could no longer get access to her farm after she was chased from it.
The President General of the Community, Edafe Kpohraror, who also spoke to newsmen, stated that “the women are on this protest because herdsmen have continued to chase them from their farmlands.
“There is one imam in the community that is using the police and army to intimidate us, and as a result, many people have fled the town because of possible arrest.
“We are appealing to the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and President Bola Tinubu to rescue our community from the attack of herdsmen” Edafe pleaded.
