Delta State, a major oil-rich state in Nigeria is seen to be in pain despite the abundant natural resources, as the communities are weeping over the insecurity that has taken over their farmlands, forests and highways.
They see insecurity threatening their existence as a people, threatening farming which is one of their major sources of livelihoods.
The communities are presently undergoing serious trauma in the hands of armed men who now occupy the bushes/forests, from where they storm highways, attack and kidnap travellers for ransom.
In the bush they attack farmers, rape women and kill victims. They storm worship places or even homes and attack and kidnap people for ransom or even kill.
Now, the story is that farmers are afraid to go to farm for fear of being attacked by gunmen, travellers are no more comfortable plying the federal highways and rural dwellers sleep with one eye open.
State Government claims it has been making strategic movements together with security agencies to provide adequate security for the people of the state but the citizens say the efforts are not yielding the expected results going by the upsurge of the activities of the armed men.
The policing structure in Nigeria has to change, said Pius Mordi, from Obulu-Uku Community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Mordi, the national publicity secretary of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom Descendants Central Union (UKDCU), in an exclusive interview, told BusinessDay, “The communities are now sitting ducks for the armed Fulani herders and vigilance groups are not licensed to carry sophisticated arms as those of the armed terrorists; the state government cannot do much since the police belong to federal government.
Using his community as an instance, he said, “In truth, Ubulu-Uku community has been subjected to untold trauma by the killer Fulani herders who my people had received with open arms as they traversed through our lands.
“They kidnapped and killed our monarch, His Royal Majesty, Obi Akaeze Edward Ofulue III. It took 10 years for the people who perpetrated the act to be convicted in court.
“Since then, the people of Ubulu-Uku through the town union launched its own vigilance group. They have been trying, but there’s so much determination can go in combating murderers armed with assault weapons.
‘In late 2024, one of the vigilance operatives were coldly murdered when their post along the road to Issele-Uku was stormed by the same Fulani gunmen.
“These are no longer cattle herders but terrorists out to kill, maim, destroy, rape women and kidnap for ransom. It’s a shame the federal government is doing nothing about it.
“We have been complaining to the Delta State government which cannot do much as the Police is not under its control. We have also complained multiple times to the Police. We asked them to clear the forests of the killer herdsmen, but nothing happened.
“With adequate weapons, our volunteer vigilance group can drive them out of our forests. However, that cannot be done with single- and double-barrel rifles and pump action rifles they’re licensed to carry. How can that deter these people armed with assault rifles?”
Mordi further said: “Our people are determined to protect our community if we have support from the Police. It’s nothing no single community can accomplish on its own. The kind of policing structure in Nigeria has to change.
“The communities are like sitting ducks for these Fulani killers and we cannot let that continue. That is why we are appealing to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to do something, probably outside the box. It’s not just about playing by the rules while federal Police continue to let the herders kill, rape and destroy farmlands with impunity.
“What happened in Uromi (Edo State) recently may just become the norm if the federal government does not empower states to protect their people.
“Delta has an anti-open grazing law, but the Police have refused to enforce it. Nigeria is becoming a failed state.”
The Kingdom sent a save-our-souls (SOS) message to Governor Oborevwori and relevant federal govern ent authorities.
In an SOS letter to Oborevwori, signed on behalf of UKDCU by Peter Ugbaja and Chinedu Osaji, president-general and secretary-general respectively, they listed the recent attacks on the people and called for government’s intervention.
The letter titled, ‘Armed Siege on Obulu-Uku Community and SOS’ noted the recent attacks by armed hoodlums on Obulu-Uku and its environs.
“Although the attacks had been going on for some years, there has been a remarkable upsurge in its frequency and severity towards the end of December 2024.
“The main hotspots where people have been killed by yet-to-be identified armed men are the roads linking Ubulu-Uku with Issele-Uku; the road leading to Ubulu-Unor from Ubulu-Uku, the Ubulu-Uku road to Onicha Ugbo as well as the road linking Ubulu-Uku with Obior.
The recent fatal attacks led to the death of up to four people with some sustaining different degrees of injuries, they noted amongst several others.
“Your Excellency, we earnestly appeal to you to come to our aid to protect the lives of our people. We plead with you to deploy relevant security agencies to investigate the attacks and forestall further incidents on our farmers and restore free movement with neighbouring communities.
“The UKDCU, the central town union in Ubulu-Uku, appreciates Your Excellency’s untiring efforts in delivering on your M.O.R.E Agenda to Deltans. Ubulu-Uku has always been a peaceful community with farming as the main occupation of the people.
We desire to keep it that way and pledge to collaborate with your administration in sustaining peace in our dear state and Forster development,” they stated.
The letter copied to the various security agencies in the state was also copied to Ned Nwoko, the senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly and Isaac Anwuzia, lawmaker representing Aniocha South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly as well as to the Local Govt Chairman.
While briefing on major breakthroughs of the state Police Command on Wednesday, April 16, the command disclosed how it recorded a significant progress in its ongoing battle against insecurity, with the arrest of over 106 crime suspects and the rescue of 13 kidnapped persons.
The crime suspects were allegedly involved in various crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, cultism, and sexual offences.
CP Abaniwonda Olufemi during the Command’s first-quarter press briefing for the year 2025 held in Asaba, said the arrests, were part of the Command’s strategic and intelligence-driven approach to policing aimed at rooting out crime and restoring public safety across the state.
Besides the arrests, the Command said it also recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition. A total of 53 weapons were confiscated, including 11 AK-47 rifles, 1 G-3 rifle, 9 Beretta pistols, 19 single-barrel and cut-to-size guns, and 13 pump-action guns.
The police also seized 5,612 rounds of live ammunition and cartridges of various calibre during various operations.
The Commissioner revealed that 13 victims who had been kidnapped were successfully rescued and reunited with their families, while 14 suspected stolen vehicles were recovered.
The operations equally led to the seizure of assorted illicit drugs and substances, which, he said, posed a threat to youth and community safety.
One of the major breakthroughs highlighted was the neutralization of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating in and around Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Issele-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, and neighbouring communities.
According to CP Abaniwonda, the syndicate, believed to be behind a string of abductions in the region, was eliminated during a gun battle with police operatives.
He expressed profound gratitude to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta State Government, and other sister security agencies for their unwavering support and collaboration.
He also praised the vigilance and cooperation of local communities, noting that the successes achieved could not have been possible without the partnership between the police and the people.
He emphasized the importance of community engagement and information -sharing in fighting crime, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, saying; “security is everyone’s business. If you see something, say something.
“Residents are encouraged to report any unusual or suspicious movements to the nearest police station or contact the Command via the following control room numbers: 08036684974, 08114895600, and 08025666914”.
Notwithstanding the successes claimed by the police commissioner, Mordi just like many other citizens of the state say the bushes and forests of most communities have remained the abode of terrorists.
They believe that changing of the present policing structure in Nigeria would guarantee safety for the state, the communities and citizens.
Let terrorists be flushed out from the forests to ensure proper safety of the citizens, their farmlands and properties, they are demanded from the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
