Women protest Yobe killings, minister condemns attacks

 














• Military kills 20 insurgents 
• 20 feared dead in fresh Benue violence  
AHEAD of this year’s International Women’s Day Friday, women across Nigeria, Thursday in their hundreds, were on the streets to protest the lingering insurgency in the North-East, and, in particular, the recent murder of about 59 students of the Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi, Yobe State.
  Also, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, yesterday condemned the murder of children in Borno and Yobe states by insurgents.
  In a related development, the Defence Headquarters yesterday said that the military killed 20 Boko Haram terrorists during a foiled attempt by the insurgents to attack Ajiri and Mafa as well as other communities on the outskirts of Maiduguri and Dikwa in Borno State.
 In the same vein, the Borno State government has raised an eight-man panel to “assess and rebuild” the destroyed property at Mafa town, as over 1,000 residents have fled to Maiduguri for safety.
  Also, suspected herdsmen yesterday invaded some Tiv communities in Benue State, killing 20 persons.
  In Ekiti State, hundreds of women yesterday held a solemn procession in Ado-Ekiti to mourn the massacre of the students by Boko Haram insurgents.
  Spotting black and hoisting placards with different messages, the women condemned the seeming intractable killings in the North that had claimed thousands of lives.
  With tears rolling down the cheeks of some of the women, they prayed for the repose of the souls of the innocent students and called on the Federal Government to find solutions to the spate of killings in northern part of the country.
  The protesters, comprising professional women bodies, female political leaders and other stakeholders, were led by wife of the state governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi.
  Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Fayemi called on Nigerian mothers to join forces in prayers for the country for an end to the Boko Haram menace and for peace to reign in every part of the country.
  She said: “Nigerian women have decided to speak with one voice to say enough is enough. Let’s put a stop to the killings of these innocent children; let us stop the massacre of the Lord’s anointed.”
  The deputy governor called for eternal vigilance by residence and enjoined them to promptly report any suspicious movement of persons or objects to law enforcement agents to nip these attacks in the bud.