From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Oghara Study Group, OSG, has expressed grief and outrage over the worsening security situation in Oghara Kingdom, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, calling for immediate intervention from federal, state, and local authorities.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Rev. David Ugolor, and made available to the media in Kaduna, the group stated that the recent abduction of a husband and wife, the brutal killing of the husband by kidnappers, and the release of the wife after a ransom payment have exposed the frightening level of insecurity threatening communities in the kingdom.
According to OSG, the tragedy has left families devastated, heightened fear among residents, and underscored the urgent need for decisive action. The group noted that the incident is not isolated.
“Oghara Kingdom, once known for its peaceful and hospitable environment, is increasingly becoming a hotspot for kidnappings, violent attacks, armed robbery, banditry, and senseless killings,” the statement read. The group said the wave of criminality has disrupted social and economic life, forced farmers off their farmlands, put businesses under constant threat, and limited the movement of families.
The Oghara Study Group strongly condemned the violence and extended condolences to the family of the slain man and to his wife, who endured abduction and the loss of her husband. “No family should ever have to experience such unimaginable cruelty,” it said.
The group also condemned criminal gangs terrorizing the area, insisting that criminality has no ethnic, religious, or political justification. It urged security agencies to identify, arrest, investigate, and prosecute all those responsible, and ensure they face the full weight of the law.
OSG therefore called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Delta State Government, Ethiope West Local Government Council, and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Defense Corps, the Department of State Services, and other intelligence bodies, to urgently deploy more personnel, intelligence capabilities, surveillance technology, and operational logistics to restore peace.
Specifically, the group urged authorities to launch sustained operations to dismantle criminal hideouts and rescue remaining kidnap victims; intensify intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration; increase patrols along roads, rural communities, farmlands, and waterways; and establish rapid-response mechanisms for prompt intervention.
It also asked for thorough investigations into the recent kidnapping and killing to ensure all those connected are brought to justice, and for stronger community policing through better collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
The Study Group further appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organizations, religious bodies, market associations, and civil society groups to deepen cooperation with security agencies through lawful information sharing, vigilance, and community-based security initiatives. “Security remains a shared responsibility, and every law-abiding resident has a role to play,” it said.
While acknowledging public anger and frustration, OSG cautioned residents against mob justice, ethnic profiling, vigilantism, or reprisals against innocent persons. It emphasized that criminals should be identified and prosecuted based on credible evidence and the rule of law, not on assumptions about ethnicity, nationality, or background.
“This is a defining moment for the Oghara Kingdom. We cannot remain silent while innocent people are kidnapped, families are forced to pay ransom, and lives are lost to violent criminals,” the group stated, adding that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of the government.
The Oghara Study Group said it remains committed to engaging relevant authorities, advocating for stronger security measures, and supporting all lawful efforts to restore peace and rebuild public confidence in the kingdom’s security framework.
“Enough is enough. The safety and security of the people of Oghara Kingdom must become an immediate national, state, and local priority. Our people deserve to live, work, farm, and travel in peace. The time for decisive action is now,” the statement concluded.
