L-R: Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi; Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, leading a solemn procession of women groups and professional bodies to mourn students of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State, slain by suspected Boko Haram fundamentalists, in Ado-Ekiti.
Women of Ekiti State have joined the rest of the country to call for prayers, improved security network and eternal vigilance to end the incessant killings by the Boko Haram sect members in the Northern part of the country.
With dirges, they expressed outrage particularly at the massacre of over 40 students of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State, during a solemn procession to mourn the incident, in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday.
The professional women bodies, top female political leaders and other women stakeholders were led by the Wife the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi.
Clad in black on black and hoisting placards bearing different messages, the women condemned the seeming intractable killings in the North that had claimed thousands of lives.
Addressing the gathering, the First Lady 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.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi said, “Nigerian women have decided to speak with one voice to say enough is enough. Let’s put a stop to the killing of these innocent children; let us stop the massacre of the Lord’s anointed.
“Let there be a stop to the abduction of our children, because apart from the children who have been massacred, there are hundreds of young girls who have been abducted over the past couple of months and no one knows where they are.”
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.
She said the time had come for the whole country to unite against the Boko Haram menace, warning that it could escalate beyond today’s flashpoints if treated with levity.
Prof. Adelabu said, “The activities of the sect members is not only animalistic, but it can best be described as satanic invasion of Nigeria, which calls for prayers. Now is the time for women and indeed every Nigerian to rise and speak against this evil.”
Last modified: March 6, 2014
