BYM raises alarm over sexual harassment of women in Plateau rural communities

Plateau State Community Voices Concern Over Rising Sexual Harassment

The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) has expressed serious concern regarding an alleged increase in sexual harassment of vulnerable women and girls in rural communities of Plateau State, attributing the trend to terrorist groups and suspected Fulani bandits.

In a statement released on Friday, BYM National Publicity Secretary Rwang Tengwong reported multiple incidents of sexual violence occurring during attacks on local communities. He noted that women and girls were allegedly subjected to rape during these assaults, with some incidents occurring at gunpoint in farming areas.

Tengwong specifically referenced attacks in the Ganawuri District of the Riyom Local Government Area, where women reportedly endured violence at the hands of bandits who captured them while returning from their fields.

The BYM cautioned that ongoing insecurity in regions such as Riyom and Barkin Ladi has left female farmers and residents particularly vulnerable to abuse while they conduct their daily activities. Tengwong emphasized that the fear of attacks, coupled with the added threat of sexual violence, has become an ordinary aspect of life for many inhabitants.

He linked the surge in harassment to persistent assaults on communities, which include the destruction of crops and cattle rustling, further exacerbating the vulnerability of those in rural areas.

The association has called on security agencies to enhance protective measures for rural communities, urging them to move beyond routine condemnations and implement tangible strategies to ensure the safety of women and other at-risk populations. The BYM implored government authorities at all levels to take decisive actions against the perpetrators and restore a sense of security to affected areas.

Read Full Article