By Watchmann

Women of Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, on Tuesday protested against Fulani herdsmen following incessant destruction of their farms and crops by cows.

The protesting women numbering over 600 took to the streets of community, housing Southern Delta University, with placards bearing different inscriptions such as “Our lives are in danger, Fulani herdsmen leave our farms”, “Fulani herdsmen have destroyed our means of livelihoods carry your cows and leave our farms”, “We don’t want herdsmen and their cows in our land again”, “Your cows are destroying our crops.”

Others placards held by the protesters are, “Herdsmen cows have destroyed all our crops and they are not only eating our cassava stem but also uprooting them”, “Your cows have destroyed our cassavas, yams and others crops leave our farms” among others.The women holding green leaves protested round major streets and roads in Ozoro stormed the council secretariat to register their grievances and called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the council chairman, Godwin Ogorugba to as a matter of urgency and importance come to their aid.

According to the women, they are no longer safe in their own land for fear of any possible attacks by the herdsmen if trying to stop their cows from destroying crops.

They stressed that the farming is the only means of taking care of their families and sending their children to higher institutions.

Addressing the protesting women, the chairman of Isoko North council, Godwin Ogorugba, thanked and commended the women for the way and manner they coordinated themselves during the peaceful protest and assured them of government protection of their lives and properties.

Ogorugba, however lamented what he called refusal of the herdsmen to adhere to the grazing laws in the state even as he warned them against incessant destruction of farms and crops in the area.

“These are very loving and peaceful women of Isoko North. The herdsmen are not complying to the opening grazing laws. This is a peaceful protest and we have listened to them and we must surely act to save our people. If we have food insecurity none of us will be able to sleep in our houses or come to our offices to work.

“We will make sure our people can go to their farms freely and come back home. Our cassavas, yams and other crops and our people will be protected because that was while we were voted into office. Our amiable governor, Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, is doing everything possible to tackle insecurity across the State.

“Our governor recently called us all council chairmen to a meeting in Asaba and gave us the marching order, go and protect your people, lives and properties and the issues of insecurity must be taken very seriously. I want to use this medium to tell the Fulani herdsmen to stop destruction of our farms and crops”, Ogorugba warned.