Thousands of Rivers State women under the aegis of Concerned Women of Nigeria (CWN) yesterday embarked on a peaceful protest over the continuous killings of innocent Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect in the North East zone of Nigeria.
The women, clad in black attires, also urged the Boko Haram sect to, with immediate effect, release all girls abducted during its raid at the Federal Government College in Yobe State.
The protesting women carried placards with various inscriptions such as “stop the killing of our children”, “God help Nigeria”,”enough is enough of the killing please”, “reject the rape of our land”, amongst others.
The leader of the women, Mrs Barakuma Egba said while handing over a petition to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly that the government must step in to stop the continuous bloodshed by the sect in the North.
Egba urged the Assembly members to use their good offices to liaise with the executive to see to the end of Boko Haram insurgency in the country, stressing that women were not happy with the killings by the sect.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Dr Enale Kodu, urged government to find an urgent solution to the Boko Haram insurgency in the country, stressing that the continuous waste of innocent lives by the sect was unacceptable.
Responding on behalf of the Assembly, member representing Etche Constituency II, Hon Golden Chioma said that the House was pained that the Boko Haram crisis has continued to escalate.
Hon Chioma, who represented Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, lauded the women for their peaceful disposition.
He explained that even the state House of Assemby, in their last sitting, had expressed same grief and pain which led to an agreement that the executive members mourn the victims of the recent killing in the Federal Government College, Yobe
According to him, every federal college is a miniature Nigeria, and so, deserves adequate security.
Sylvia ThankGod Amadi