Hundreds of women from Yeghe community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday, April 15, took to the streets, calling on the federal and State governments not to allow any military actions that will instigate crisis in the peaceful community, insisting that there is no crisis in Yeghe to justify military actions in the community.
The women, all dressed in black attire, said they were not comfortable with unprovoked incessant military onslaughts in their community, explaining that enemies of the community have misled the military authorities, painting the people as violent and disorderly.
They demanded the respect of the foundamental rights of the people of Yeghe, insisting that leaders of the community are law-abiding.
The Bua Yeghe Women said they have done nothing to deserve successive attacks by soldiers acting on the directive of enemies of the community.
Some of the placards carried by the women read: ‘leave our leaders alone’, ‘Chief Solomon Ndigbara is not a cultist,’ ‘our Paramount ruler is not a cultist’, ‘our yourths leader is not a cultist’, ‘Yeghe people are peace loving and supportive of any government that takes the development of the people as paramount’.
The women appealed to all security agencies, particularly, the military, to conduct themselves professionally and according to the rules of engagement when carrying out any legitimate operation in the community or any part of Ogoni.
They observed that rather than respecting the rights of the people, security agencies have always shown sentiment in their operations in the area, calling on the international community, including United Nations, to come to the aid of the community.
Describing Chief Solomon Ndigbara as a crusader of Peace, the Bua Yeghe Women disclosed that he has championed the continued peace and security in all villages in Bua Yeghe community, and should be encouraged to sustain that feat.
“We would continue to pray for the sustainance of peace as well as protection of life and prosperity in our community. We appeal to the federal Rivers State governments to hear our cry”, the women said.
