Women from Otuasega community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have condemned what they described as the constant invasion and destruction of their farmlands by herdsmen.
The women, who staged a peaceful protest on Monday said they were no longer safe considering the incessant presence of herdsmen on their farmlands.
Seen with placards bearing inscriptions such as, “Our Women Are Not Safe in the Farms Anymore”, “We need government assistance, our women are longer safe,” among others the protesters called on the state government to urgently intervene in the matter to avert bloodshed in their community.
Speaking on behalf of the women, the community’s woman leader, Mrs Amiena Abiogu, said despite the state government’s ban on open grazing, the herders have continued to invade and destroy their farmlands.
According to her, the protest was necessary, as a way to draw the state government’s attention to their plight.
Narrating an attack incident in the community, she said “some few weeks back, cows invaded our community with their keepers, despite the state government ban on open grazing. They invaded the community with guns, cutlasses and brutally attacked one of our youths.”
She called on the State Governor, Douye Diri to come to their aid, as they would not want the situation to degenerate into violence in the community.
The aggrieved women, who barricaded the Otuasega end of the Edepie-Imiringi Road linking communities in Ogbia and Nembe councils to Yenagoa, vowed not to leave the road until the state government considered their demands.
The action disrupted traffic as many motorists plying the road had to look for alternative routes.
However, intervening in the situation, the Commissioner for Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development, Mrs Faith Opene, assured them that their complaints would be conveyed to the governor for his intervention.
