Ondo Women Protest Half Nude Over Brutal Killing Of Farmer By Herdsmen, Rising Insecurity In Uba-Oka Akoko

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

In a demonstration of their profound outrage and sorrow, women from Uba-Oka Akoko, located in the Akoko South West Local Council Area of Ondo State, took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the brutal killing of a local farmer, Sunday Ayeni. 

OPEN TELEVISION Naija (OTN) News reports that the women, many of whom were dressed only partially, marched directly to the palace of the Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba Adebori Adeleye, to voice their deep-seated grievances concerning Ayeni's tragic death, which they attributed to suspected herdsmen.

As they gathered at the palace, which was already hosting a security meeting, the women alleged that the same herdsmen responsible for Ayeni's murder had also subjected some women in the community to sexual assault on their farms and had caused extensive damage to their crops. 

Ayeni’s death, occurring just days earlier, was particularly shocking to the community. He had been attacked on his farmland by unknown assailants shortly after receiving financial compensation for the destruction of his crops by a herder's cattle. 

The sequence of events leading to his murder began when Ayeni, enraged by the repeated destruction of his livelihood, demanded restitution. 

Elders in the community intervened and negotiated a settlement, instructing the herder to pay an undisclosed sum to Ayeni. 

However, the situation took a grim turn when Ayeni did not return home after going to his farm. A search party was dispatched, and their worst fears were confirmed when they discovered his lifeless body.

OTN News recalls that during the protest, Mrs. Abigail Ojo, speaking on behalf of the aggrieved women, recounted the hardships they had been enduring. 

Ojo implored security agencies to take immediate action to resolve the escalating violence and ensure that peace is restored to their once-thriving agrarian community.

She lamented that many women in the community had abandoned their farms out of fear for their safety.