Following the rising case of insecurity in the Akoko area of Ondo state, a courageous group of women took to the streets in protest, some partially unclad, to denounce the chilling wave of killings and kidnappings perpetrated by suspected bandits.
Primarily elderly, these indomitable women marched through their community, their hearts heavy with anguish over the relentless bloodshed, abductions, and devastation of their cherished farmlands at the hands of armed assailants.
Their protest erupted in the wake of a harrowing incident—Sunday Ayeni, a local farmer, was ruthlessly slain on his own land after a violent clash with herdsmen who had trampled his crops. His lifeless body, alongside that of his devoted hunting dog, was discovered by a search party over the weekend.
This brutality has forced other farmers to abandon their livelihoods, paralyzed by the fear of becoming the next victims of this torment.
At a security meeting hosted by the respected traditional ruler of Oka, Olubaka of Oka, Adebori Adeleye, the women, some without head coverings, passionately voiced their urgent demands for justice for fellow victims of these heinous attacks.
Abigail Ojo, the spokesperson for the women, bravely recounted their harrowing experiences—some of them had faced not only violence but also the deeply violating act of rape by the suspected herdsmen while tending their farms.
Determined and resolute, Mrs. Ojo declared, “We cannot tolerate these senseless killings any longer. All of this has to stop,” her voice resonating in the local dialect, a powerful call to action.
She implored the security agencies for immediate assistance and long-lasting solutions to the tormenting strife overwhelming their lives.
In response, the traditional ruler, Mr. Adeleye, reassured them that the security situation was being earnestly addressed by the relevant authorities; however, he urged patience as they worked toward a sustainable solution to the deepening crisis within their community.