Grieving women from rural communities in Taraba State, staged a peaceful protest to demand justice and government intervention following deadly herdsmen attacks that claimed several lives and displaced dozens from their homes.
Dressed in black to symbolize mourning, the women embarked on a solemn trek from their village to the headquarters of the Karim Lamido Local Government Area.
Chanting sorrowful songs and carrying placards and fresh green leaves, they called attention to the killings of their husbands and the destruction of their farmlands during recent communal clashes.
The protest, led by Rejoice Ishmael, sought to highlight what the women described as ongoing insecurity and government inaction.
Ishmael, during the demonstration on Tuesday, accused security operatives of neglect while labelling the recent attacks as “genocide.”
“We are being killed in our sleep. Our husbands are gone. We are crying out for help. Let the government protect us by deploying more security to stop this bloodshed,” she said.
They protesters further urged authorities to impose a temporary restriction on the movement of Fulani herders in the conflict-prone region, citing escalating threats to community safety.
While the protest was ongoing, it was learned that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force intervened, firing teargas to disperse the women.
Though no casualties were reported, the sudden forceful response caused panic among the demonstrators and abruptly ended the peaceful march.
Earlier, before the disruption, the local council chairman, Bitrus Danjos, had received the women and praised their orderly conduct.
Danjos assured them that their grievances would be relayed to the appropriate state authorities and promised continued collaboration with traditional rulers and security agencies to restore peace in the area.
The protest came days after representatives of the Bandwa, Jenjo, Fulani, and Munga ethnic groups signed a peace agreement aimed at ending the cycle of violence in the region.
Nevertheless, anxiety remains high in communities like Munga Lelau, where recent attacks reportedly left over 40 dead and caused widespread destruction of property worth millions of naira.
