Tension has escalated in Abraka, Ethiope East local government area of Delta State, as security forces and protesters clashed during demonstrations against the alarming rise in kidnapping incidents in the university town.
The Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) has condemned what they described as "brute force and excessive violence" allegedly used by members of the Nigerian Army to suppress peaceful protests by students, residents, and indigenes of the area. Meanwhile, the Delta Police Command maintains that their personnel are properly handling the situation.
Conflicting Accounts of the Confrontation
According to a statement issued by DOPF Chairman Emmanuel Enebeli and Secretary Onitsha, the Delta State government deployed military personnel to quell the protests instead of addressing the deteriorating security situation. They claimed that videos circulating online show "men in military uniforms opening fire on unarmed civilians."
Eyewitnesses reported that while no deaths have been confirmed, at least one protester sustained a facial injury and was seen bleeding profusely after security agents allegedly fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.
"The people are tired of being hunted like animals. We've begged the police to act, but the kidnappers are growing bolder by the day. Now they're responding with bullets instead of protection," said one protester.
Six Days of Continuous Protests
The protests, which had entered their sixth consecutive day, were organized by residents of Abraka and students of Delta State University (DELSU) demanding urgent action from the state government and security agencies over the escalating cases of kidnappings in the university community.
Protesters have accused local police of neglect and complicity, claiming that kidnappers now operate with impunity in the town. The demonstrations were reportedly peaceful until the arrival of heavily armed security personnel, including soldiers and police officers.
Students of DELSU joined the protest after their Students Union Government (SUG) issued a 72-hour ultimatum on May 29 to the state's Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, to restore security in the area. The SUG President, Augustine Onovughegor, led a temporary walkout, warning they would return if no concrete action was taken within two days.
Police Response to the Allegations
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, confirmed that the Commissioner of Police had directed the Area Commander to take control of the situation in Abraka.
"The Area Commander is handling the matter, and the protesters have dispersed. It was later that we heard that somebody was shot, and until now, nobody has brought the DPO to the alleged victim to confirm this," Edafe stated.
He further challenged the protesters' claims, saying, "If they said somebody was shot, they should be able to give us a name and location."
According to reports, the Area Commander had earlier addressed the protesters, assuring them of planned police operations to comb the surrounding bushlands in search of kidnappers. However, the situation allegedly escalated after a protester stoned a security agent, prompting what witnesses described as a severe response from security personnel.
As tensions remain high in Abraka, residents continue to demand more effective security measures to address the kidnapping crisis that has plagued the university community.
