Despite efforts to suppress their protests last Wednesday and Friday over the destruction of farms and attacks on farmers by armed herders in Southern Kaduna, a group of aggrieved farmers, largely made up of women, returned to the streets on Saturday.
The protesters, who marched from various villages to the palace of the Chief of Koro, His Highness Yohanna Akaito, in Kurmin Jibrin, Kagarko Local Government, came from Aribi, Kenyi, Kutaho, Kabara, Kushe, Dogonkurmi, Katugal, Nkojo, and Kurmin Jibrin.
Dressed in black, they were joined by some men and children. They painted their faces black, holding leaves in their mouths and on their heads, and walking barefoot.
The demonstrators condemned the destruction of their farms and the attacks on farmers by armed herders operating with impunity.
Upon reaching the palace, the protesters forced their way in and appealed to the traditional ruler to pressure the government and security agencies to take immediate action.
They vowed to carry out another protest if there is no concrete feedback from the authorities.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the protesters could be seen singing a mournful, wailing song, saying, “Our Father in heaven, we have come before You; please wipe away our tears.”
Addressing the traditional ruler, one of the protesters said, “Your Highness, our king, distinguished elders, and members of the Koro community, we greet you in peace. Today, we have come before you with heavy hearts and tearful eyes. We come as widows, orphans, and the suffering sons and daughters of Koro land.
“Your Majesty, we know you are a listening and compassionate leader, one who always attends to the cries of his people. That is why we are here today, to lay our grievances before your throne.
“Before you stand men and women who are breadwinners in their respective homes. But our means of livelihood have been destroyed. Herders have grazed their cattle on our farmlands, leaving our crops in ruins. Everything we toiled for is gone.
“We no longer know what to do or where to turn. Each time we try to protect our farms, they attack us with machetes. They are killing us, our husbands, our children.”
“We have come to you because we have no one else to run to. We seek your intervention, Your Highness. Please help us put an end to this heinous act in our land. Let peace and justice return to Koro,” she added.