Over 100 women from Ekakpamre community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State have protested the raping and incessant attacks on them by suspected herdsmen.
They accused security agencies of supporting the herdsmen against them and called on the federal and state governments to rescue them.
The protesters, mostly aged women displayed fresh leaves and placards with inscriptions such as: “We do want cows in our bush; Stop grazing on our land” and “We are being raped and chased from our farms.”
The woman leader of the community, Mrs Loveth Ekakpamre said, “For over three years now, herdsmen have been troubling us, chasing us from our farmlands.
“Just last week, five women were raped in 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 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 shackle of herdsmen in the community.”
Mama Blacky Raymond, an octogenarian who twisted her kneel due to the herdsmen attack lamented that she can no longer access her farm after she was chased from her farm.
On his part, the president general of the community, Edafe Kpohraror said 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 Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescue our community from the attack of herdsmen,” Edafe pleaded.
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