As Delta State grapples with escalating security challenges, including rampant attacks by armed herdsmen, kidnappings for ransom, and increasing violent crime, the need for decisive action from the government has never been more pressing.
In an earnest appeal to Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), urged the immediate assent and implementation of the Delta State Community Security Corps Agency Law, 2025, which is sitting unsigned several months after its passage by the Delta State House of Assembly on July 22, 2025.
Spearheaded by Hon. (Dr.) Isaac Anwuzia, the legislation aims to overhaul the previous community policing framework and establish a formal Community Security Corps Agency.
This agency is intended to enhance collaboration between community-based security efforts and conventional law enforcement, similar to initiatives like Amotekun in the South-West.
The proposed law is designed to bolster Delta’s security architecture, improve local intelligence gathering, and provide swift responses to imminent threats that federal forces may struggle to address.
While Governor Oborevwori has shown positive movement in the security arena, recently signing the Delta State Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Cultism (Amendment) Law, 2025, and launching the Delta State Security Trust Fund, critics express escalating frustration over the delayed enactment of the Community Security Corps Agency Law.
This inaction raises serious concerns amidst reports of unrelenting violence against farmers, a direct threat to food security and public trust in governance.
The stark reality is that past legislation, including the Delta State Anti-Open Grazing Law, has largely been ineffective due to inadequate enforcement, allowing the state’s farmers to remain vulnerable to violent assaults with no protection in sight.
“Laws without enforcement structures become symbolic documents, not instruments of protection,” asserts Emmanuel Enebeli, Chairman of the advocacy group.
The current security landscape is further aggravated by the displacement of terrorist factions from the North-East, prompting fears that criminal networks may exploit softer regions, including parts of the Niger Delta.
As such, the advocacy group emphasizes that the timely signing into law of the Community Security Corps Agency Law is crucial for creating the operational backbone needed to address these pressing security challenges effectively.
In their appeal, Enebeli and Secretary Shedrack Onitsha stress that the implementation of this law should be paired with a clear strategy for recruitment, training, funding, and coordination with existing security agencies.
They believe that doing so will demonstrate a commitment to the safety and welfare of Delta State residents.
As the New Year approaches, the community advocates implore Governor Oborevwori to consider this legislation as a vital, forward-thinking initiative, a powerful message to the people of Delta State that their safety is paramount and that their government is ready to take preventative measures rather than react to crises.
The urgent call to action resonates with Deltans seeking assurance that laws enacted for their protection will not simply gather dust on the shelves of government offices.
