Nigerian women from the Oviri Olomu Community in Delta State have declared a sex strike to protest unending attacks by suspected herdsmen.
The women, who decried years of terror, rape, and destruction of their farmlands, vowed on Tuesday to withhold intimacy from their husbands until concrete steps are taken to secure their lives and land.
The protesters marched to the Ughelli Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, demanding urgent intervention.
A woman leader, Esther Monday, explained their drastic action, stating, “We are on strike, no food, no sex, no peace until something is done.” She added that the community’s men can no longer safely go to their farms.
A former Secretary-General of the community, Austin Etata, confirmed the women’s resolve, stating, “Our women made it clear, no cooking, no intimacy, and no trading until government and security agencies act.”
He described the situation as “dire,” with herdsmen turning the area into a “den of kidnappers and rapists” and destroying their cassava farms.
Another community leader, Emmanuel George, added that residents were tired of the herders’ threats and claimed the herders were attempting to take ownership of their land.
The protesters called on Delta State Governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, and the police to enforce the state’s anti-open grazing law and end the siege on their community.
In response, the Divisional Police Officer of Ughelli ‘A’ Division promised to look into their complaints and convene a peace meeting between Fulani and community leaders to restore peace.
