A women leader from a community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State has decried the increasing cases of sexual assault and killings allegedly perpetrated by armed Fulani herdsmen against women and girls in the area.
The community leader made the remarks while speaking to a fact-finding delegation from Equipping the Persecuted, a non-governmental organization that supports victims of religious persecution across the world.
She said women in the community have been subjected to degrading treatment, including rape, intimidation, and murder, often while working on their farms.
According to her, “Our women have been going through severe humiliation at the hands of the Fulani herdsmen.
They waylay us on our farms, gang-rape the women, and anyone who resists is killed.”
The women leader described the attacks as persistent, noting that many victims had either been assaulted or displaced from their homes.
“We can’t sleep in our homes or go to the farm. They hunt us as if we were animals. Even young girls are not spared,” she lamented.
She added that the community had documented several cases of rape and murder but expressed frustration that the government had not intervened to protect them.
“We have a government in this state, yet we have been left vulnerable. No one is standing up for us,” she said.
The recurring attacks in Barkin Ladi and neighboring communities have continued to fuel concerns about insecurity and the safety of rural residents in Plateau State.