Yesterday, the very heart and epic centre of Asaba, the state capital was assaulted by a den of daredevil kidnappers. On DBS road, few poles from the Delta State Police headquarters, Honourable Joan Onyemaechi, a former commissioner was kidnapped in a broad daylight. A gallant police man died in the process. This unfortunate incident blew into shreds the security architecture of the state. It is like carrying the spate of kidnapping to the door step of police. As usual, the police said they are working round the clock to rescue the former commissioner and bring the culprits to justice. Hope of a secured and safe Asaba is fasting varnishing.
The kidnapping of Onyemaechi , aka Ada Anioma is coming few days after a powerful media group raised the red flag about insecurity in Delta State. The Delta State Online Publishers Forum in a well publicized statement lamented the spectre of kidnapping, herdsmen menace, armed banditry and called on the government and the security operatives to tame the monster of insecurity plaguing the state.
The Pond News through news reportage and incisive editorials bemoaned insecurity in the state. The unfortunate impression that the security operatives are giving the people is that hope is lost and that they are overwhelmed by the power of these bandits. This is absurd as well as outlandish.
Both mainstream media and the New Media had painted in graphic details the catalogue of insecurity buffeting the state. In Ika land, farmers could no longer access their farms because of kidnappers and marauding herdsmen. Kwale, the headquarters of Ndokwa West LGA was infested with cult wars. The Polytechnic town of Ogwashi Uku not too long ago witnessed invasion of criminal gangs and students were at their mercy. In Sapele, a former speaker of the state House of Assembly Chief Monday Igbuya cried out of the insecurity enveloping Sapele and its environment. Reports from Abraka, Warri and Ughelli are not better. The list is endless.
Yet there is police presence in the state. The police are visible in mounting roadblocks all over the state including the most remote villages. These roadblocks are notorious as tax collection centres where innocent citizens are extorted. In Asaba, even in the inner streets, police mount roadblocks to collect money from Keke riders under the veneer of suspicious reasons. We frown at this. We make passionate appeal to the police commissioner to buckle his men within the belt of reasoning and professional training. Something urgently should be done about these roadblocks.
Time was when Asaba used to be the peace haven and business men and fun lovers from Onitsha came to enjoy the serenity of the city. Yesterday kidnap of Ada Anioma has changed that interesting narrative.
The eternal beauty of governance is the security and welfare of citizens. Sadly the security of Deltans and residents of the state are under serious threat. We urge government to use all it’s powers to curb the insecurity in the state.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in deed and in truth had demonstrated enough goodwill to the police and other security operatives by donating vehicles and other security materials to them. It is time to ask questions how the goodwill extended to the security operatives is harvested by Deltans. The governor as the chief security officer should demand answers about the worsening crime rates.
Let the obvious be stated here again and again. No meaningful development can take place in the absence of peace. Let the governor strategically engage the various heads of security operatives on how to tame the insecurity matter. It deserves all the strategic thinking.
