Plateau women protest naked over removal of traditional ruler

Women in Mushere community of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, have staged a naked protest over the removal of their traditional ruler.

The women, who carried placards with inscriptions such as “Bring Back Julius Our Chief,” called on the government to immediately reinstate their monarch, insisting that his removal has destabilised the community.

The protest comes amid rising tension in parts of Bokkos, where insecurity and recent killings have heightened fears among residents and triggered multiple demonstrations.

A video of the protest, which circulated widely on social media, showed a group of elderly women marching through the community unclothed while chanting and holding placards to express their grievances.

The footage, which drew mixed reactions online, prompted BusinessDay to seek clarification from the Bokkos Local Government Chairman amid conflicting accounts surrounding the demonstrations.

Confirming the development in a telephone interview with BusinessDay on Thursday in Jos, Samuel Amalau, the Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area Council, said the protest was peaceful.

“The women protested naked, but it was a peaceful demonstration. We calmed the situation and ensure that tensions do not escalate further,” he said.

Amalau explained that the Mushere protest was separate from another demonstration held in the area, noting that different groups had distinct grievances driving their actions.

“There were actually two protests in Bokkos. The Mushere women were protesting the removal of their traditional ruler, while another group of women protested over the killings in the community,” he added.