Uzairue Women Farmers in Etsako West Local Government of Edo State staged a protest against what they termed as massive destruction of their crops and farmland by cows under the control of Fulani herdsmen to the Palace of Ogieneni of Uzairue Kingdom. The women, mainly peasant elderly farmers, marched peacefully to the palace.
They demanded urgent action to end the alleged indiscriminate destruction of cash crops and other farm produce by herdsmen grazing their cattle in the area. Chanting solidarity songs and brandishing green leaves.
One of the protesters, Mrs. Mary Samuel told Password Media World that their visit to the Palace of Ogieneni of Uzairue Kingdom was to appeal to them to come to their aid over the massive destruction of their farm land and constant harassment and intimidation by herdsmen, adding that they now lived in perpetual fear of herdsmen attack
Receiving the women on behalf of the Ogieneni of Uzairue, the Chief of Afowa Community Community, Chief Imokhai condemned the activities of the herdsmen and their cows and commended the women for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves. It was good that you first registered your grievances with the palace and this shows the enormous respect you have for the institution.
The women also marched to the Divisional Police Headquarters Jattu, where the protesters also requested for immediate exit of the herdsmen from the community to save their farm lands and the people from imminent famine. Our yams, cassava and other crops in our farms have all been destroyed and eaten up by their cattle.
The DPO, Otoagua Joseph while commending the women for their peaceful disposition, said they would collaborate with other stakeholders and security agencies in dealing with the problem. He expressed regret over the destruction of economic crops and assured the women that a permanent solution would be found, he concluded.