By Mark Adarigho Odedede
There is the rising wave of insecurity and brutal killings ongoing in Delta State. More often than not, it has become a common experience to witness cultism-related killings, onslaughts that involve barbaric assassinations of young persons, kidnappings and armed robbery attacks in the major towns of Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Asaba and other towns and villages in Delta State.
For the past six months, the whole state has been thrown into a turmoil. It is like the death knell has been sounded and nobody knows who the next victim will be. The sanctity and dignity of human life no longer exist in our sphere. We are of all men living in a miserable security crisis situation in Delta State.
Apparently, the once peaceful Delta State has been overtaken by hoodlums, cultists, assailants, thugs, kidnappers and armed robbers. The hope of the people in Delta State to have a secured and peaceful environment even in a time of global health crisis of COVID-19 is currently hanging in a balance.
How do we explain that billions of Naira are withdrawn from the state’s treasury every month as security votes, still the government cannot tackle the surge in insecurity and bloodbath, that have become the order of the day?
One would expect that with the availability of resources at his disposal, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State should have been more proactive in tackling the internal security and assassination sprees tearing the state apart.The Governor should have called for more collaborative actions from the Nigerian Police Force, volunteer neighborhood watch corps and community vigilante groups across the state.There ought to have been an executive order for increased security intelligence matched with swift actions.
We are yet to see a proactive or pragmatic security approach from the Governor of Delta State towards curtailing this crisis. Why can’t we have an effective security network comprises various security agencies across the 25 LGAs of the state?
The other time, the state government inaugurated the “Operation Delta Hawk”, a new security outfit that would help to tackle internal security challenges in the state. While, I commend that initiative as a laudable one that will strengthen the security architecture of the state, many will join me to attest to the fact that they have not lived up to expectations and aspirations of the people considering the huge financial resources the governor spent in setting up the tactical security unit; thus, there are no proactive measures/steps from the newly formed state security unit towards checkmating insecurity in all parts of the state headlong.
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa should consult the former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan who sprang into actions during his time by adopting practical and strategic measures to curb all forms of cultism which made Delta State relatively peaceful during his time. Leadership especially in a democratic context involves wide consultations, and it is only a humble and thoughtful leader that can get the required results in crisis situations like the one bedeviling our dear state.
Time is life and I urge Governor Okowa to act now and very fast to justify his primary responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of Delta State.
May peace and stability return to our land.
Mark Adarigho Odedede is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
