Women in Oke Ere, a community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the ongoing insecurity and frequent kidnappings affecting their community.
The aggrieved women, many of them elderly, described the situation as an “endless reign of terror” and marched through the streets wrapped in traditional cloths, chanting sorrowful songs and demanding urgent intervention from the authorities.
Videos from the protest showed several women wailing in despair, reflecting their frustration over the persistent attacks, kidnappings, and killings that have plagued the area for several months.
The latest incident that spurred the protest involved a self-proclaimed repentant kidnapper, who reportedly confessed to being part of a kidnapping syndicate operating in the region.
Reports say the man, whose identity remains undisclosed, announced to the community his decision to leave the criminal group due to fears for his own life.
He also implicated a local resident as a member of the syndicate. However, the accused individual denied the allegations and was subsequently released, which caused further dissatisfaction among the women, who expressed frustration over the delayed response from the traditional council.
The protesters have urged both the government and security agencies to take immediate steps to address the growing insecurity and protect the residents from further harm.
