By Ebun Sessou

A coalition of 40 female civil society groups under the aegis of Women Situation Room in the South East, has protested the rampant killings across the country which they said affect   women and children. The group therefore called on the Nigerian government to set up a commission to look into the armed herders killings with a view to profferring lasting and just solutions.

In a protest to Enugu State House of Assembly   where they submitted their demands to the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Edward Ubosi, coordinator of the group, Mrs Blessing Duru said they want to increase women’s substantive participation in conflict prevention and peace building process. Duru said the protest was in solidarity with communities experiencing armed conflict, wanton killings and other human degradations.

She said: “Women of Nigeria and indeed most of the populace are shocked and saddened by the tragic and inhumane killings of citizens and destruction of properties across Nigeria.”  They carried placards that read: “Peace means absence of violence”; “Government should act”; “stop the killings”; and “say no to killings,” among other inscriptions. Addressing the women, the House of Assembly Speaker, Ubosi told them that the House had passed laws that protect women and children and urged them to always support one another. He promised that the House would do all it could to help bring to an end, the killings across Nigeria.