CALLING ON GOV. OBOREVWORI, NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE, OTHERS TO END ONGOING KIDNAPPING, CRIMINAL ATTACKS, KILLINGS IN IKA LAND
…. Calls On The State Government, Nigerian Police To Be Alive To Their Constitutional Responsibilities.
It is now obvious that Ika nation is presently under siege of insecurity, particularly kidnapping allegedly orchestrated by Fulani herdsmen or Fulani pastoralists, nomadic or semi-nomadic whose primary occupation is raising livestock but have recently, reportedly become not only a reality to worry about but a great threat to the security of the peace-loving Ika indigenes.
Ika Weekly recently learnt that not even the members of local vigilante group constituted by the leadership of Agbor community to augment security in the town are spared of this dastard act by these men of the underworld as one of their members were among the fifteen indigenes of Ika nation recently out, of which fourteen were reported murdered in cold blood. It was only one that escaped to deliver the sad narrative.
From Agbor Obi to Umunede, From Owa Nta to Owa Alero down to Abavo, the story is the same. Innocent and helpless farmers are cut down in their prime; women of all ages are in most cases raped and killed by these dare devil monsters.
The Newspaper views this development as unacceptable and condemns the act in its entirety.
Aside from the painful awareness that farmers in Ika land can no longer go to their farms as they are daily, gruesomely murdered by these daredevil evil men, more troubling, going by commentaries is the fact that there appears no end in sight to these incessant attack as all efforts by Ika people to get the state government and Federal security apparatuses in the state be alive to their constitutional responsibilities have proved abortive.
Giving details of efforts made to secure the release of the  15 victims before 14 of them were killed, the Leader of the Vigilante group said in a viral video that when he first got the information, he, in company of his group, approached the Nigeria Police Force, Agbor Division. From division, they were referred to the Area Command.
‘Getting to the Area Commander’s office, we were again asked to call the Delta State Commissioner which we promptly did. Yet, after all these efforts, help did not come from any quarter- a failure that led to the untimely death of these innocent deltans. It is a very sad development’’.
Going by the above account, it is imperative that the harrowing situation ongoing in Ika land is a failure of leadership. And of course, the blame goes to the state governor, Rt Honorable (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori, the Chief Security of the state with constitutional mandate of protecting lives and property while ensuring economic wellbeing of the people in the state.
Why is it taking Rt Honorable (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori eternity to implement the Anti-Grazing law passed during his time as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and was subsequently signed into law by the former governor of the state, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa?
Also, the Newspaper is particularly not happy with the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force in the state. If they cannot promptly respond to distress calls, what, then is their business being in the state? Have officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force forgotten the taxpayers through which they are paid their monthly stipends are derived from these same innocent citizens they are feeling reluctant to protect?
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We must not continue like this as a people. The state security architecture must be rejigged with immediate effect!
The state Governor, the Nigerian Police, Men and women of Operation Delta Hawks and other government security outfits in the state must rise to the occasion and flush out these criminals masquerading as herdsmen.
On the part of the Ika indigenes, it is time for all to recognize that achieving an effective security system is a shared responsibility.
Therefore, this time is auspicious for all hands to be on deck. While we call on traditional rulers to close rank for the purpose of this task, it will equally be rewarding if well-meaning sons and daughters support this clarion call by donating in cash and security equipment to the Nigerian Police force in Ika land and the local vigilante groups who will be adequately supervised by the Police authority in the area.
Finally, the Newspaper reiterates that the insecurity challenge at hand in Ika land calls for urgent action and we are left with only one option; to defeat and stamp out these criminals out of Ika nation.
This war must be led by the State Governor.