In a haunting display of anguish and resilience, women farmers in Southern Kaduna marched barefoot with their faces painted black to the palace of a traditional ruler, protesting what they described as years of relentless attacks by herders on their communities.
The women, mostly farmers, walked in silence at intervals and sang sorrowful songs, their voices echoing pain and frustration. Witnesses said their cries symbolised not only mourning for lives lost but also anger over government inaction and the unending cycle of violence that has plagued the region.
While details of the latest protest remain limited, it mirrors a long-standing pattern of farmer-herder conflicts that have devastated Southern Kaduna and other states such as Zamfara and Plateau. The clashes—rooted in competition over land and water resources—have deepened over time, worsened by ethnic and religious mistrust, climate pressures, and weak law enforcement.
Despite years of government interventions and efforts to balance leadership across ethnic and religious lines, peace has remained elusive. Many residents believe such measures have done little to rebuild trust or ensure security in rural communities.
Community and civic leaders continue to call for inclusive peace dialogues and policy-driven solutions, urging authorities to prioritise community safety over politics.
In late September 2025, a peace meeting in Kaduna reportedly brought together farmers and herders who pledged to embrace dialogue and coexistence. However, it remains unclear whether those same groups were involved in this latest protest.
The October 2025 demonstration stands as a powerful reminder of the growing despair among Southern Kaduna’s rural populations—particularly women—who say they have borne the brunt of attacks, displacement, and loss of livelihood.
Their barefoot march, blackened faces, and cries for justice now serve as a solemn message to both state and federal authorities: that peace, long promised, remains painfully out of reach.
