calls for bold, decisive action amid escalating violence, kidnappings, displacement
As insecurity deepens across Nigeria, the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) has issued a strong call to action, urging governors of Southern Nigeria to decisively address the escalating violence, particularly in rural communities plagued by kidnappings, killings, and attacks allegedly carried out by criminal elements disguised as herdsmen or hunters.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, and signed by DOPF Chairman Emmanuel Enebeli and Secretary-General Shedrack Onitsha, the forum expressed deep concern over the spate of violent crimes affecting innocent citizens, especially women and children, in Southern states.
“The situation has reached a breaking point,” the statement read. “The continued silence or passive responses from our state governors are no longer acceptable.”
The DOPF reminded the governors that as Chief Security Officers of their respective states, they are constitutionally mandated to protect lives and property.
Citing the Land Use Act, which vests land ownership in the governors, the forum emphasized that proactive steps must be taken to reclaim ancestral lands from criminal occupiers and restore public confidence in government.
Referencing the Emir of Muri in Taraba State, who issued a public 30-day ultimatum for criminal herders to vacate his domain, DOPF urged Southern leaders to adopt similarly courageous stances in protecting their people.
“If leaders in the North can demand action, why are Southerners treating these threats with leniency?” the statement questioned, quoting the Emir’s viral video message that has sparked national debate.
The group also cautioned governors to scrutinize traditional rulers and local leaders before engaging them in security collaborations, citing intelligence reports alleging that some had aided criminal activity.
DOPF highlighted recent violent incidents, including the killing of 16 persons in Uromi, Edo State, and ongoing threats in Delta State that have forced farmers off their land, worsening food insecurity and economic hardship.
“These are not just isolated tragedies but warnings,” the forum stressed. “They signal a dangerous erosion of public trust in government’s ability to protect its citizens.”
The statement concluded by invoking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to state governors, specifically his call to the Plateau State governor, urging them to take ownership of their internal security. DOPF called on Southern leaders to implement this directive without delay.
“The time for rhetoric is over. The people deserve peace, protection, and purposeful governance,” the forum declared.
