A wave of anguish and desperation swept through the streets of Oke-Ere in Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State, as dozens of women—many elderly—staged a powerful protest on Wednesday against unrelenting violence plaguing their community.
In a now-viral video, the women marched half-naked, armed only with sticks and leaves, as they chanted sorrowful songs and cried for help. Their message was clear: the community has had enough of the persistent kidnappings, killings, and assaults allegedly carried out by armed bandits and suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Once a peaceful farming town, Oke-Ere has seen a disturbing surge in violent attacks that have forced many residents to abandon their farms and flee their homes. The women, visibly distressed, implored the government and security agencies to intervene before their entire community is driven into silence by fear.
“The women of Oke-Ere are crying out for the soul of their land,” read a placard held by one protester. “They are tired of burying their husbands and sons. They can’t go to the market. They can’t farm. This is not living. #FreeYagbaWestFromInsecurity.”
This emotional protest follows a recent ambush along the Ayere-Kabba expressway in March, where suspected kidnappers abducted three travelers and left four others seriously injured. The victims are currently receiving treatment at St. John’s Hospital in Kabba.
Residents across the region have continuously accused suspected herdsmen of orchestrating the wave of abductions and killings, pleading for swift and lasting security solutions.
