..gives Governor AbdulRazaq 14-day ultimatum to act

PRESS STATEMENT

Womanifesto condemns in the strongest terms the violent attack on women who staged a peaceful protest at the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin, demanding urgent action over the worsening insecurity in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area.

These women were not criminals. They were not political actors. They were wives, mothers, and caregivers searching for their abducted husbands and children, some of whom have remained in captivity for months without meaningful government intervention. Their protest was a desperate cry for protection and justice.

Instead of protection, they were met with violence.

Eyewitness accounts and widely circulated video footage show men armed with canes emerging from within the Government House premises to beat, chase, and brutalise these women while police officers present allegedly failed to intervene. This attack occurred in front of a government facility where protesters ought to have been protected, not assaulted.

Every Nigerian citizen has the constitutional right to peaceful protest. Any attack on citizens exercising this right, especially within the premises of a government office, is a grave indictment of the state. As the Chief Security Officer of Kwara State, and a gender sensitive governor , this incident raises serious questions about women’s vulnerability and responsibility to guarantee the safety of citizens.

Womanifesto notes , commends and acknowledges the swift Governor’s public statement distancing himself from the attack. While that is desirable distancing the state from this terrible act is not enough. What is wrong is wrong, and condemnation without accountability only emboldens perpetrators. If hoodlums are allowed to get away with this violence, women will become increasingly afraid to speak out, and such attacks will continue unchecked.

Womanifesto is in direct contact with some of the affected women, who have narrated harrowing accounts of harassment, humiliation, and physical assault. Their trauma is real, and their treatment is unacceptable in any democratic society. This violence must be condemned unequivocally and addressed decisively.

We therefore issue the following demands and give the Kwara State Government a 14-day ultimatum to act:

Our Demands
A public explanation within 14 days detailing how and why peaceful women protesters were attacked at the Government House.
Immediate identification, arrest, and prosecution of all individuals seen in the video footage assaulting the women, regardless of their political affiliation or status.
A public report from the Kwara State Commissioner of Police explaining:
Why the police failed to protect the protesters
Why the attackers were allowed to operate freely
What disciplinary or corrective measures are being taken
Full disclosure of the names of those arrested so far, if any, and the concrete next steps being taken to ensure justice.
Clear government commitments on what actions will be taken to prevent a recurrence and to protect women, protesters, and vulnerable communities across the state.
Urgent action on insecurity in Oke-Ode, including a transparent update on efforts to rescue abducted persons and support affected families.

We reiterate: if hoodlums are not brought to book, this pattern of violence will persist, and women, already disproportionately affected by insecurity, will continue to suffer in silence.

Womanifesto stands firmly with the women of Oke-Ode and all Nigerian women who courageously demand safety, dignity, and justice. We will continue to monitor this case closely and engage relevant authorities. Failure to act within the stipulated 14 days will compel us to escalate our advocacy through all lawful and democratic means available.

The brutalisation of women seeking help is unacceptable. Silence is not an option. Accountability is non-negotiable.

Signed:

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi

Co-Convener , Womanifesto