Hundreds of women farmers from the communities of Mayobo, Moria, Makaray, and Makarie staged a protest on Monday, August 26, 2024, against the destruction of their rice farms by cattle allegedly owned by the former Regent Chief of Makarie Chiefdom, Ibrahim Dawoh. The protest took place in front of the residence of Paramount Chief Bai Makarie N’kolo.

The aggrieved farmers, who rely on rice cultivation as their primary source of livelihood, accused Dawoh of allowing his cattle to roam freely, causing extensive damage to their crops. They claim that the destruction of their farms is not only devastating to their families but also undermines President Julius Maada Bio’s “Feed Salone” initiative, which aims to boost local food production and achieve food security in the country.

“Those cows have destroyed everything we worked for,” lamented one of the protesting women. “We depend on these farms to feed our families and contribute to the nation’s food supply, but now we have nothing.”

The women have called on Paramount Chief N’kolo and relevant authorities to take immediate action to address their grievances and hold Dawoh accountable for the damages. They are also demanding compensation for their lost crops and stricter measures to prevent such incidents in the future.