News/Interviews
Delta-Vanguard Newspaper had reported on June 5, 2025 that some security personnel were injured, killed after been ambushed, as confusion ensued between residents of Abraka in Ethiope East local government area of Delta State, and some northerners residing in the community. The report further noted however that some troublemakers took advantage of the situation and unleashed mayhem on two residents, who as alleged went into the bush for land transaction, and were also died by herdsmen. Upon receiving the disturbing report, the police mobilized alongside with local vigilante, and hunters to the scene, where the kidnappers also fired gun, which resulted in gun battle between the duo.
The Newspaper also reported that the Police had earlier claimed victory with the killing of four kidnappers troubling the Abraka community and the recovery of one AK-47 rifle.
This was disclosed by the State Police Public Relations officer, SP. Bright Edafe, who in his statement said: “The joint operation was carried out today, being 4/06/2025, at about 0300 hrs, following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected kidnappers along the Abraka Railway axis. The joint operatives comprising the police, hunters, vigilantes, and anti-cult volunteers engaged the suspected kidnappers and recovered one AK-47 rifle, along with thirteen rounds of live ammunition”
“Four of the suspected kidnappers were shot during the gun duel and later gave up the ghost, while others escaped with gunshot injuries.
“During a preliminary investigation, a recently rescued kidnapped victim identified one of the deceased suspects as a leader of the gang that kidnapped him,”
Meanwhile, our Editor-in-Chief, Mark Orgu, who had one on one interview with the Council Chairman, Hon. Augustine Ogedegbe, during the weekend at his office, Isiokoro, said that, the situation in Abraka is not as bad as portrayed by social media especially the alleged shooting of protesters by soldiers . He however discredited the report while confidently assuring residents, including students, farmers never to panic again.
Excerpts
Tells us the security situation after the crisis that kept Abraka on a standstill for days, with protests and alleged killings and kidnappings
I believe Security is everybody’s business because security men are not magicians to secure everywhere at every time and that is why intelligent sharing on information from the citizens is paramount. Yes, there are so many talks and news concerning the issue in Abraka. The insecurity issue in Ethiope East is what I inherited since I resumed office as local government chairman . What happened in Abraka is unexpected and unfortunately most people just took to social media to circulate fake news, thereby making things more difficult with propaganda. Some news outlets even reported that people died, police died. Yes, apart from the two victims that died, which we sympathize with the families but all things being equal, the security meeting today (at the weekend, Friday), was to remind various security outfits, the vigilante groups, hunters, and police men to be more committed to the oat they sworn to protect our people and its environs.
Mr. Enebeli, Chairman, Delta Online Publishers’ Forum, Hon. Ogedegbe being inducted into the African Leadership Hall of Fame, (ALHF) and Mr. Orgu at the weekend
I remain the chief Security officer of the Council, and it is my duty to safeguard citizens and am assuring our people that we are committed to their security and welfare.. I assure our people what happened in Abraka will not happen again, as we are more resolute and stronger to protect life and property. That was the reason why I convened security meeting with local security outfits and the police and others to reassess the progress made and what is needed to be done.
Were you properly briefed on what really happened in Abraka, and is there any major challenge the local security wants you to address
To some extend, I wasn’t properly briefed because the whole thing happened coincidently because there was a kind of insecurity but we had a meeting where the police said that most of the insecurity challenges especially kidnapping in the council are mostly from the bush’s angle, and sometimes, farmers are the victims. This also formed the basis for the security meeting we had. Now, while the situation is been assessed in Abraka, protest broke out, organized by students. At that point, we called the Student Union Government’s president and few of his excos, to alert them we are on top of the issue. I told them that protest is not the best way to address the matter, and if they must continue the protest, let us go to the bush and protest together and push this criminals out.
The irony of it all was, some of the community boys took advantage of the protest and escalated it, blocked the roads with their vehicles, even started flogging people to join the protest. This is against the right of freedom of others, as where one’s freedom ends, another one’s own begins. Nobody is saying there shouldn’t be protest, but let it be well coordinate, not infringing on other people’s right. Thank God for the military men, who were able to calm down the situation and open the blocked roads for users. Even with the provocation from the youths, the military men remained professional in their duty. Now, the news that came that soldiers shot some protesters is not true, nobody was shot, yes, there might be injury from the crowd in the process of them running for their safety, but no one was gunshot.
Not quite long same day , we got a kind of feedback from the police and hunters trying to secure the environment again that there were some youths trying to retaliate by going into the bush to look into some parcel of lands and some were killed. When I got the information, the DOP with his team moved in quickly for rescue, and unfortunately, they were ambushed and the criminals opened fire on the Divisional police officer (DOP) and his team, although, there were little injury sustained. The youths from the community were angry and insisted that any stranger in their bush whether Fulani herdsmen or not, must leave their bush. While we understand the extent the situation can go, some community leaders in Abraka with our efforts were able to bring things to normal, stressing, violence cannot be used for solutions to crisis.
The stage we are now is more solutions . I can assure our people that what happened in Abraka will not be allowed again because there are better security strategies with synergy from other security outfits and locals. The security meeting today was also to encourage our men to be on alert towards safeguarding our land. Our focus is to secure our people without harming anyone. Ethiope East is safe and secure for everyone.
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