“We’re Tired of Bloodshed!” — Oke-Ere Women Protest Rising Insecurity in Kogi
By Andrew Haruna, Kabba
Oke-Ere, Kogi State – In a heart-wrenching protest on Wednesday, angry women—many elderly and half-naked—from Oke-Ere in Yagba West Local Government Area took to the streets to decry what they described as the “endless reign of terror” in their community.
In a video obtained by The Bureau Newspaper Online, the women were seen marching with sticks and leaves in their hands, chanting sorrowful songs in their local dialect, demanding urgent government intervention against the growing wave of attacks, kidnappings, and killings.
“We are tired of burying our children,” one of the women cried in the video. “We can no longer sleep in peace. Help us!”
This emotional protest comes in the wake of a recent kidnapping incident along the Ayere-Kabba Expressway in March, where three people were abducted and four others injured. The victims were later taken to St. John’s Hospital in Kabba for treatment.
The protesters called on the Kogi State Government, security agencies, and the Federal Government to act swiftly to restore peace in the area, which they say has become a hotspot for violent crimes.
Local residents told The Bureau that attacks have become more frequent, with bandits and gunmen terrorizing roads and farmlands, making daily life a nightmare.
“We are peaceful people, but this is too much,” said Mr. Joshua Adebayo, a community leader. “The people of Oke-Ere are crying for help, and the government must not turn a deaf ear.”
The women’s protest has since sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing sympathy and urging authorities to prioritize security in rural communities.
As of the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by the Kogi State Government or security agencies regarding the incident.
