Angry Women from Akoko Southwest Local Government Area in Ondo State have staged a half-naked protest over the persistent kidnappings and killings allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen in their community.
Their clamour follows the recent murder of a farmer called Sunday Ayeni on his farm in the community.
The corpse of Ayeni was found on his farm, with machete wounds and his intestines exposed, indicating that he was brutally stabbed to death by his attackers.
The incident occurred just a few days after the deceased received monetary compensation for his farm, which was destroyed by cows allegedly belonging to herdsmen in the area.
A resident of the community who preferred anonymity revealed that Ayeni’s farm was destroyed by herdsmen last week.
However, the situation was resolved by security agents and community elders, who intervened and facilitated the payment of an undisclosed amount of money as compensation to Ayeni by the herdsmen.
During the protest, the women, who were half-naked and without head ties, trekked to the palace of the traditional ruler of Oka Akoko, Oba Adebori Adeleye, chanting various solidarity songs.
The protesters also accuse the herdsmen of raping women on their farmlands and destroying their crops.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting women, Abigail Ojo narrated their ordeal, stating that they had practically abandoned their farms due to fear of being attacked by the Herdsmen.
Ojo stated thus“We call on security agencies to help find lasting solutions to our problems. We are protesting to let the government know our plight.”
The Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, SP ‘Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya in her reaction to the development stated that police investigations have since commenced on the killings, expressing hope that the perpetrators would soon be apprehended and brought to justice.
The state is one of the many states facing the menace of kidnapping and wanton killings by suspected herdsmen.
On July 21, 2024, the armed men killed two commuters and kidnapped five others along the Ifon-Owo Highway in Ondo State.
It was gathered that the driver of the commercial vehicle and a female passenger were shot dead at the scene of the incident.
Five other passengers, including a corps member, were taken away by the gunmen. However, two of the victims managed to escape, with varying degrees of wounds.
Similarly, late last year, 25 choir members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Igan, Akure, Ondo State state capital, were kidnapped along the Owo-Ose axis of the state.
The victims were kidnapped on their way to Ifon in the Ose local government area for a burial ceremony of a parent of one of them. While eight of them have, escaped from their suspected abductors others were reportedly released after paying huge ransom.
