Women from Eha-Ohala, comprising Mgbuji, Umujove, and Abor autonomous communities in the Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday against persistent attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The protesters blocked the Nkalagu-Eha-Amufu-Ikem-Obollo-Afor Federal Highway, carrying green leaves and singing lamentation songs to draw attention to their plight.
The women accused security agencies of failing to protect them while the attackers continued to destroy their farms and settlements. They shared harrowing accounts of women being raped, beaten, and mutilated by Fulani herdsmen. “Our women are being raped, our husbands and sons can’t go to farm anymore. When we go to the farm, we’re beaten, raped, and brutalized,” the women lamented.
Mrs. Roseline Odoh, a protester, stated that the community can no longer access their farms due to the constant attacks. “Every year, during harvest, Fulani herdsmen come and occupy our farms, destroying our livelihood. We’re farmers, and we have no other means to survive except through farming,” she said.
The protesters also alleged that over 150 people from the affected communities have been killed between 2020 and 2025, while more than 28 farm settlements have been sacked and occupied by the attackers.
Attempts to get a response from the Enugu State Police Command and Governor Peter Mbah’s media office were unsuccessful, as neither responded to inquiries as of press time.
The protest is a cry for help from the women of Eha-Ohala, who are seeking protection from the government and security agencies. The Enugu State government and security agencies must take immediate action to address the concerns of the protesters and ensure the safety and security of the affected communities.