The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • No tribe is innocent

    No tribe is innocent

    • By Folorunso Fatai Adisa

    Sir: A few weeks ago in Uromi, Edo State, men—fathers, sons, uncles—were burned alive under the hot sun. Their only crime? Being northerners, travelling with arms. Just days later, in Otobi Akpa, Benue State, over 13 people were slaughtered, many injured, and more than 50 homes razed. This once-peaceful Idoma land, known for its coexistence with herding communities, is now scarred by bloodshed, born of grazing disputes and deepening distrust.

    Sadly, from East to West, North to South, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, our people are dying at the hands of fellow Nigerians. How long shall we keep shedding each other’s blood over suspicion, old wounds, and historical manipulation?

    Nigeria, born from the forced fusion of diverse regions in 1914, was never set up for unity or democracy. It was built to serve colonial profits, not national purpose. The divide-and-rule system fractured us: warrant chiefs imposed on the Igbo, Yoruba monarchies co-opted, and northern emirs used as colonial agents. Southern surpluses were siphoned to cover northern deficits, widening

    What we suffer today is a lingering legacy of a well-orchestrated injustice. And our political, traditional, and religious leaders have failed to confront these historic divisions. Violent sects and ethnic militias thrive where silence and denial reign. And unless we save ourselves, no saviour is coming.

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    Social interaction has always been built on narratives. But when those narratives paint Yorubas as ritualists, Igbos as tribalistic, and Hausas as violent, they don’t just hurt feelings, they destroy trust. Stereotypes are lazy weapons. And while no tribe is perfect, no tribe is inherently bad either. Bad eggs are in every basket. It is the duty of the good ones to speak up and clean house.

    People once bound by shared humanity now live in fear of one another. Peace is preached from behind barricades. Revenge is plotted in the name of justice. And we’re all arming ourselves for war in the name of peace.

    But mutual suspicion, toxic competition, and tribal hatred will take us nowhere. The greatest societies in history are those that mastered the art of coexistence. No tribe, no region, no nation thrives alone.

    We need to rise, not as fragments, but as a force united by truth, empathy, and purpose. We don’t need more tribes, we need more builders. And this is where our leaders need to step in to stop the politics of bloodshed, while we, the citizens, join hands with them to build a nation free of fear and tears!

    •Folorunso Fatai Adisa,

    United Kingdom

  • Auto industry in need of government support

    Auto industry in need of government support

    • By Babatunde Yusuf

    Sir: Nigeria’s automotive sector which was once seen as a path to industrial growth and job creation is now arguably stalled. This indeed calls for concern as it reflects deeper national problems.

    Despite being Africa’s biggest economy with over 220 million people, it’s saddening that we still depend heavily on imported vehicles. In 2023 alone, more than 400,000 vehicles were imported, while local production was under 10,000. The gap is not encouraging for the local automotive industry but the question that keeps begging for answer is: why hasn’t the country built a stronger local auto industry?

    The main reasons are poor infrastructure, inconsistent policy, and weak government commitment. Plans like the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), introduced in 2013, never gained real traction. They lacked follow-through hence their failure.

    Local assemblers such as Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, PAN Nigeria, and Stallion Group are trying to stay in business, but then, they face high production costs, unreliable electricity, import-dependent parts, and limited access to government grants and credit. Innoson Motors once even said it operates at less than 30% of capacity because of these constraints.

    Building cars in Nigeria costs far more than importing them. The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics reports that assembling a vehicle locally costs 20 to 30 percent more than importing a used car, even with tariffs. Most Nigerians can’t afford new vehicles given financial constraints, so they turn to used imports, often referred to as ‘tokunbo’. Import tariffs were also supposed to make local assembly more attractive. But without reliable infrastructure and policy enforcement, they’ve only raised prices for consumers while doing little to help manufacturers.

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    Road and logistics challenges also add to the cost. Distributing vehicles is expensive due to poor road networks. Nigeria ranked 112th out of 139 countries in the World Bank’s 2023 Logistics Performance Index. This, unarguably, hurts competitiveness and scares off investors. The industry also suffers from limited scale because vehicle production is quite expensive and needs high volume to reduce costs. But fewer than 10% of the annual vehicle sales in Nigeria are for new cars. Without big institutional buyers or government procurement, local assemblers can’t grow.

    Other countries (including African countries) show what’s possible. Morocco, for instance, exported over 700,000 cars in 2023. Its government created industrial zones, offered tax breaks, and stayed consistent with policy. Companies like Renault and Stellantis responded by setting up shop. Nigeria could take a similar path, if our governments at the state and national level are ready to make a change.

    There’s also a strong case for jobs. The International Labour Organization says the auto industry creates up to 12 indirect jobs for every direct one. With youth unemployment above 30%, the sector could absorb thousands into meaningful work and no doubt this will cut down the rate of unemployment throughout the country.

    Enclosing this, with the tech evolution overtaking every industry, it high time the federal and state governments hearken to their responsibilities lest we risk missing out on the shift to electric vehicles (EVs). The country has lithium reserves and could play a role in the global EV supply chain. But that would require planning, investment, and infrastructure which are all currently missing.

    •Babatunde Yusuf,

     maplebyautos@gmail.com

  • Nigerians and lure of Ponzi schemes

    Nigerians and lure of Ponzi schemes

    • By Ademola ‘Bablow’ Babalola

    Sir: In Nigeria, many people are undoubtedly susceptible to decoy. They’re like fish whose appetites for the foods on the hooks can hardly be suppressed. They’re easily disarmed by baits. And one of the baits that smoothly attract and entice them, and completely bring them on their knees is ‘awoof’ (freebie). ‘Awoof’ does not only disarm, it also injures or sends people to early graves.

    The culture of having it free is so rampant among Nigerians hardly any aspect of their lives is free from the plague. Even in social gatherings, many a Nigerian, irrespective of their status in society, often loose guard and throw caution to the wind where decency is expected of them.

    Many presume that the desperation and eagerness of some Nigerians to acquire wealth on a silver platter could be the reason they’re usually easily tricked by con-artists. This weakness in Nigerians could be what the promoters of some Ponzi schemes who had operated successfully in Nigeria understudied and leveraged to dispossess the victims of digital/online investment of their possessions.

    The recent fraud instituted by a digital investment platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) – which allegedly duped many Nigerians (the rich, the poor, the educated the illiterate, clergymen, musicians, police officers and others) of about N1.3 trillion, arguably the largest in the history of online scam in Nigeria – isn’t a surprise to me because CBEX wasn’t the first investment platform disguised as Messiah that came to rescue people from poverty but in the end crashed.

    CBEX, like other Ponzi schemes that had come before it, came and posed as an authentic online investment platform and people fell for it like they fell for others without proper investigation to confirm its genuineness. The platform which was being operated by a group of foreign nationals in collaboration with their Nigerian partners promised potential investors heaven and earth, 100 per cent returns on investments in 30 days, a pledge that was shrouded with surreptitious obligations.

    “Once bitten, twice shy”, they say. One would think that Nigerians had learnt bitter lessons from the ordeals they suffered for engaging in such unreliable investments in the past, but reverse was the case. The victims discarded the saying that “success is a process”. They craved overnight success, and they fell.

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    Would Nigerians ever learn after the huge loss to CBEX? This is a question no one can accurately answer. Unless adequate monitoring devices from appropriate government agencies are employed to keep an eye on the activities of digital investments in Nigeria, the boast to end Ponzi schemes in the country might be a daydream.

    To other Nigerians who have not fallen into the trap of the scammers and also to those who had one way or the other fallen, the solution is to understand exactly the aim of Ponzi scheme. It’s an investment that uses new investors’ money to pay earlier investors. The scheme’s stratagem is to rob Peter to pay Paul. In this case, very few people gain while myriad of people are bound to lose.

    Having understood that, you need to suppress your desires to acquire wealth at all cost. To aspire to be rich within a twinkle of an eye is dangerous, and this mind-set always make people to be vulnerable to tricksters’ baits. Any offer that’s too good to be true cannot be a good offer. There can never be a 100 per cent return on investment in 30 days anywhere in the planet, even beyond the globe. Though taking risks is part to the steps to take to the top, taking unreasonable risk often spells doom.

    •Ademola ‘Bablow’ Babalola,

    babalolaademola39@gmail.com

  • Regular census a desideratum

    Regular census a desideratum

    Regular population census is a sine-qua-non for a country’s optimal development and it cannot be over-emphasized. All strata and indices of a country’s development are embedded in its population census and this to a great extent makes its regularity a desideratum. 

    Nigeria’s last population census in 2006 put the country’s population at 140, 431, 790. Nineteen years after that exercise, the conduct of a new population has been in abeyance and the country’s real population remains a matter of conjecture.

    Different humongous population figures have been ascribed to the country, all in attempts to satisfy the whimsical needs of individuals. Nations population and its demographics are dynamic and because of their dynamism, they increase or decrease like weather.

    Such vagaries in human nature and development ipso facto must have prompted the UN Population Commission to fix a 10-year interval between one population census and another. A decade of population growth and development in the entire gamut of a country should conjure a realistic population census on which a country’s template of development can be based.

    Nineteen years of absence of a population census is a gross violation of all the nuances and parameters on which good and accurate population census stand and serve. The nation’s development is not static but population census as its regulatory factor has been static since 2006 when the last census took place.

    Population is a capital intensive project, especially in terms of funding, socio-economic indices and stable polity. The relative peace the country enjoyed between 1999 and 2006 was partly responsible for the successful conduct of the 2006 census.

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    Recent inauguration of a census committee by President Bola Tinubu is therefore a right step in the right direction.

    It aptly shows the great concern which the president has for holding a census already overdue by nine years. With just two years to the end of his first term, population experts are of the opinion that the president will require unusual political will to conduct a population census.

    It will also require the president closing his eyes against all forms of political gangsterism and manoeuvring to concentrate on satisfying one of the very important essences of his government. The president will do well not to allow his mind to be troubled about 2027 as his achievements will surely speak on his behalf to silence political do-gooders and malcontents.

    Population census has been one of the torchy issues of the country’s historical development and despite nine years lapse, the government must guide against anything likely to hinder the conduct of a free, fair, accurate and acceptable population.

    •Sunday Olagunju,Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • The resurgence of Boko Haram

    The resurgence of Boko Haram

    Sir: The alarming resurgence of Boko Haram poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s stability and security. The recent spike in attacks, particularly in the Northeast, has not only resulted in tragic loss of life but has also aggravated the socio-economic challenges faced by the region.

    A recent report by Beacon Security outlines that in the first quarter of this year alone, Boko Haram carried out over 397 attacks in Borno State, leading to 514 deaths and 357 abductions. These statistics are not just mere numbers; they symbolize the real and ongoing suffering of the county’s families and communities. As the situation keeps taking different dimensions, the government need to act decisively to curb this threat.

    Boko Haram’s current phase of operations comes with a shift to kidnap-for-ransom, extortion through taxation and the use of digital tools for coordination and spreading propaganda. Historically, the group relied on conventional terror methods, including bombings and armed assaults. The present tactics of this group suggest a more sophisticated and financially motivated agenda. Reports indicate that Boko Haram has generated substantial financial resources—amounting to up to N1 billion since 2024—through these coerced payments. This approach not only augments the group’s operational capacity but also places an unbearable strain on already impoverished communities. Families that should be concentrating on rebuilding their lives are instead forced to divert their limited resources to meet these extortion demands.

    These extortion tactics extend beyond kidnappings, which have now intensified against local economic activities, coercing traders, fishermen, farmers, and herders to pay exorbitant fees just to carry out their daily tasks. This “taxation” system is perhaps one of the most insidious aspects of Boko Haram’s new strategy. This allows the group to maintain control over territory and instils a climate of fear among the populace, further destabilizing the region. Those who pay are issued “tax receipts” that they must present at a moment’s notice, or else face severe repercussions. This is not just a criminal outfit; it is an organized regime that thrives on intimidation and extortion, effectively creating a parallel system that undermines legitimate governance.

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    The federal government cannot afford to overlook this alarming trend. It must take urgent and comprehensive action to address the challenges posed by the Boko Haram revival. A multi-faceted approach is essential for curtailing the group’s operations and restoring peace to affected communities. The government must ramp up military operations against Boko Haram through deploying more troops and advanced equipment to areas where the group is particularly active, such as the Lake Chad region, southern Borno, and northern Yobe.

    The government must also work towards cutting off Boko Haram’s financial lifelines. This is a critical effort to disrupt the ransom economy and taxation systems that the group exploits. The government needs to provide innovative solutions to counteract the group’s illicit funding mechanisms.

    Addressing the growing digital sophistication of Boko Haram is an urgent necessity. The group has increasingly turned to technology to enhance its operations, utilizing high-speed internet, drones, and social media to disseminate propaganda. The government must collaborate with tech companies and international partners to mitigate Boko Haram’s access to these digital tools. By disrupting their online capabilities, we not only weaken their propaganda efforts but also inhibit their recruitment strategies, which are often aimed at vulnerable youth seeking purpose and identity.

    Building trust between the government and local populations is critical. The government needs to make its citizens believe every step it takes to address their challenges. Many communities feel abandoned by the state and this disenchantment often fuels support for insurgent groups. Grievances can be addressed through dialogue, and inclusive governance can foster a more resilient society capable of standing against Boko Haram’s influence.

    The international community, too, has a role to play in supporting Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram. Terrorism is a global issue, and the implications of Boko Haram’s resurgence extend beyond Nigeria’s borders. Collaborative efforts and regional integration can significantly enhance Nigeria’s capabilities in countering this threat.  With millions of people are affected, and addressing the pressing needs of internally displaced persons must be a priority for both the government and international partners.

    The scars left by Boko Haram’s years of violence are still fresh in our collective memory. We have won the war. It’s time to regain the peace and make our communities safer for the citizens.

    •Isah Aliyu Chiroma,<aliyuisahchiroma29@gmail.com>

  • Another look at Nigeria-Saudi partnership on illicit drugs

    Another look at Nigeria-Saudi partnership on illicit drugs

    Sir: As a long-time advocate for stringent drug laws and a tireless campaigner against trafficking, I welcome the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC). This agreement, forged in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, represents a significant stride in the global war against narcotics by fostering deeper cooperation between our two nations.

    The objectives are clear: intelligence sharing, joint operations, and mutual capacity building to combat narcotic and psychotropic substances and their precursors. In an era where criminal networks grow ever more sophisticated, no single nation can tackle the scourge of drug trafficking in isolation. This MoU could well be the pivot needed to disrupt the entrenched global drug trade.

    This partnership follows a pattern of recent international collaborations by Nigeria, including talks with The Gambia and other African states. Such moves underline our nation’s growing commitment to combatting trafficking as a global issue, not merely a domestic one.

    Yet, while these diplomatic gestures are promising, their success must be judged by the impact on ordinary citizens. Drug trafficking does not merely ensnare its participants—it devastates families, shatters communities, and corrodes the moral fabric of society. Addiction, violence, and poverty often follow in its wake. As such, enforcement alone is not enough.

    True success lies in pairing enforcement with prevention. This means robust public education campaigns, community engagement, and addressing the root causes that push people into drug abuse and trafficking—unemployment, lack of education, and social disenfranchisement. We must stop treating the symptoms and instead heal the disease at its source.

    Too often, our discussions around trafficking fixate on statistics—seizures, arrests, convictions. But what happens after the busts? Where is the support for the affected communities? Are we rehabilitating those addicted or merely punishing them?

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    Both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia must ensure that the partnership is not mired in bureaucracy. Periodic public updates and measurable outcomes must be part of the deal. Without accountability, even the most promising initiatives risk becoming hollow gestures.

    Furthermore, the success of this MoU cannot rest solely on governmental agencies. For lasting change, all segments of society must be involved—religious and educational institutions, community leaders, and families. These are the grassroots influencers who shape behaviours and values. Their involvement is indispensable.

    Preventive strategies must target the youth—those most vulnerable to the lure of drug culture. We must offer education, opportunity, and hope. Simultaneously, rehabilitation must be prioritised, not side-lined. Our society must extend a hand to the fallen, not just cast judgement upon them.

    As the Nigeria-Saudi MoU is operationalised, we must ask: what next? What are the tangible outcomes we should expect? Arrests are not the only metric of success. True progress is reflected in lives redeemed, families restored, and communities renewed.

    This agreement marks a hopeful step forward. But real success lies not in signed papers or press conferences, but in action. If we are to win this war, we must adopt an integrated approach—one that unites enforcement with prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Only through such a holistic strategy can we hope to dismantle the networks of destruction that drug trafficking has built—and replace them with strong, thriving communities.

    Let this not be just another ceremonial handshake. Let it be the turning point in our national fight against drugs—a war we cannot afford to lose.

    •Ini Janetty, Makurdi, Benue State.

  • Why NBA must be the adult in the room

    Why NBA must be the adult in the room

    • By ESV Bukola Ajisola

    Sir: Barring a last minute change of course by either the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) or the Rivers State government, the heated kerfuffle over the N300 million supposed handout to the NBA is primed to become a matter for litigation before the courts.

    The contentious money was said to have been donated by suspended Sim Fubara’s administration to the NBA for the proposed hosting of NBA’s Annual General Conference (AGC) in Port Harcourt, a donation which the NBA would rather categorize as a largesse given out with no strings attached.

    Whilst the NBA is within its professional rights to receive donations from states and corporate concerns, a burden of proof is required of the NBA to establish a non-quid pro quo grounds for payment of such magnitude of money by Rivers State.

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    Adjacent to this is the fleeing alibis of denying Rivers the hosting rights based on the declaration of State of Emergency in the state, a denouement completely extraneous to Rivers State but within the purview of the federal government and the National Assembly.

    The question is whether it is lawful for Rivers State to be punished by the NBA on the issue of State of Emergency by denying the state hosting rights to the conference and whether the NBA, an association that is revered as the custodian of law, order and propriety has any moral justification to hold on to the N300 million?

    The NBA must be guided by the legal maxim “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. This maxim in equity means that a person seeking an equitable remedy must have acted fairly and without wrongdoing regarding the matter either in dispute or in public opinion.

    The NBA doesn’t need to enmesh itself in public opprobrium as doubling down on keeping Rivers’ money and taking the hosting rights away from her is certainly beyond the pale.

    •ESV Bukola Ajisola,

    bukymany@yahoo.com

  • NBA should return Rivers’ money now!

    NBA should return Rivers’ money now!

    • By Nelson Ekujumi

    Sir: Following the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s decision to change the venue of its Annual General Conference (NGC) from Rivers State on the grounds of “principles of being custodians of the rule of law and the constitution” which naturally is what the body of lawyers should represent, the sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas must have stunned Nigerians and the rest of the world when he urged the NBA to as a matter of principle, return the whooping sum of N300 million collected from the suspended governor, Sim Fubara for the hosting rights of the AGC by Rivers State.

    In response, the NBA has stated that the money in question was a gift from the Rivers State government for the AGC and not predicated on hosting rights. In any case, it is customary for individuals, groups and organizations to solicit government support and financial assistance in organizing programmes and events just as it is the prerogative of governments to either acquiesce or decline such request; by this action, no crime has apparently been committed from both ends of the divide.

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    But the indisputable truth is that the donation by the Rivers State government was because the state was going to host it and nothing else. This is where the insistence by a school of thought that the money should not be returned to the coffers to Rivers State government because it was obtained from a democratically elected government flies in the face of law, logic and rationality.

    Asides, if the NBA is meant to be taken seriously on its claims of being the custodian of the rule of law and our constitution, merely by virtue of the ruling of the Supreme Court that no democratic government existed in Rivers State as a result of the actions of the suspended governor, Sim Fubara, when he behaved like a despot by muscling the legislature which is the bastion of democracy, going as far as unilaterally spending public funds without legislative scrutiny and approval as prescribed by law, the NBA ought to have joined the apex court in deploring the illegality that amounted to gross misconduct and gross violations of our laws.

    Should the esteemed body have glossed over the fact that the governor acted illegitimately and unconstitutionally and in brazen violations of his oath of office and the constitution?

    Point is: if the Rivers State peoples money has been donated illegally by the suspended governor, common sense, logic, morality and rationality demands that once that same AGC was moved out of Rivers State to another state for any reason, then the sensible and logical thing to do is for the NBA to wash its hands clean of Rivers State money by returning it.

    Anything outside of this, no matter the braggadocio that is being exhibited by the leadership of the NBA and its supporters will forever erode the credibility and integrity of the organization in the eyes of Nigerian people and beyond.

    NBA, please return Rivers State N300 million now!

    •Nelson Ekujumi,

    ekujuminel@yahoo.com

  • CBEX: Why Nigerians will always fall for Ponzi schemes

    CBEX: Why Nigerians will always fall for Ponzi schemes

    • By Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun

    Sir: The tears are fresh once again. This time, they are flowing from victims of CBEX, a now-defunct digital asset trading platform that promised financial miracles but delivered heartbreak. Nigerians have woken up to the reality that over N1.3 trillion may have been lost to yet another fraudulent scheme, adding to the ever-growing graveyard of collapsed Ponzi ventures.

    CBEX had pledged an incredible 100% return on investment within just 30 days. To a population worn down by economic hardship, staggering inflation, and low wages, this promise seemed like a lifeline. But it was a lie dressed in glamour and digital sophistication.

    The story of CBEX might appear new to some, but it is merely a remix of an old, painful song. From MMM to Ultimate Cycler, from Loom to Racksterli, and a long list of forgotten platforms, Nigeria has seen this movie too many times. The names may change, the platforms may look more polished, but the script remains the same; an unsustainable offer is made, early participants are paid from the contributions of new investors, testimonies flood social media, and before long, the platform crashes. Investors are left stranded, and the masterminds vanish into thin air.

    So why do Nigerians keep falling for the same trap? It is a combination of desperation, ignorance, misplaced trust, and systemic failure. Many Nigerians are looking for shortcuts out of poverty in a country where legitimate opportunities seem reserved for a privileged few. The idea of doubling your money in 30 days sounds far more appealing than toiling for years with little to show. Financial literacy is still sorely lacking, even among educated individuals. Many do not understand how real investments work, and when confronted with unrealistic offers, they lack the tools to critically evaluate them. Moreover, trust is often placed not in the platform itself, but in the people who promote them: friends, church members, influencers, creating a dangerous echo chamber where doubt is dismissed and questions are discouraged.

    CBEX, like others before it, operated as a fastest-finger game. Those who got in early reaped fake profits and became unpaid ambassadors, luring more people into the trap. The game relies on speed, on hype, on silence, and most importantly, on ignorance. When it inevitably collapses, the same cycle unfolds: denial, anger, and finally, bitter acceptance. By the time victims begin to understand what happened, the damage is done. Savings are gone, school fees lost, businesses destroyed, and in some tragic cases, lives are lost through suicide or severe mental breakdowns.

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    The consequences go beyond the financial. They erode public trust, destabilize families, and discourage investment in genuine opportunities. The trauma stays with victims for years, making them either completely averse to financial risk or, ironically, even more vulnerable to the next scheme in a bid to recover lost funds.

    Government agencies, especially the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have often failed to act until it is too late. Many of these platforms operate in plain sight, using social media ads and influencer partnerships to build credibility. Yet there is no swift regulatory response, no early warning system; no visible crackdown until the collapse occurs. And even when they do move in, convictions are rare, and stolen funds are almost never recovered. This lack of accountability has made Ponzi schemes a low-risk, high-reward crime for fraudsters.

    What Nigeria needs is a deliberate, sustained response, one that goes beyond post-crisis reactions. Financial literacy must be embedded into school curriculums and adult education. Communities need to be sensitized using grassroots media, traditional leaders, and religious platforms. There must be collaboration between the tech space and regulators to identify and shut down suspicious activity before it gains traction. And perhaps most importantly, Nigerians must begin to reject the culture of “fast money” and return to the virtues of patience, diligence, and sustainable growth.

    The CBEX tragedy is only the latest in a long line of financial wounds. But it could be a turning point if we choose to learn from it. Or we can continue the cycle, from platform to platform, from hope to heartbreak, from brief riches to the sickbed of regret.

    •Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun,

     <thedreamchaser65@gmail.com>

  • Armed siege on Ubulu-Uku: SOS to Oborevwori

    Armed siege on Ubulu-Uku: SOS to Oborevwori

    • By Peter Udene Ugbaja, Chinedu Osaji

    Sir: We are constrained to draw the attention of our governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to the recent rise in attacks by armed hoodlums on Ubulu-Uku, a town in the Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State and its environs.

    Although the attacks had been ongoing for years, there has been a remarkable upsurge in their frequency and severity since December 2024. The main hotspots where the yet-to-be-identified armed men have killed people are the Ubulu-Uku/Issele-Uku Road, the Ubulu-Uku/Ubulu-Unor Road, the Ubulu-Uku/Onicha-Ugbo Road and the Ubulu-Uku/Obior Road.

    The recent fatal attacks led to the death of up to four people, with some sustaining different degrees of injuries. The attacks in December took place at the following locations: the Ubulu-Uku/Ubulu-Unor Road, close to Isho Quarters, where an adult male identified as an indigene of Cross River State was killed; Onicha Uku, quarters in Ubulu-Uku, where a headless body of an adult male was found; the Ubulu-Uku/Issele-Uku Road, where several attacks were carried out on vehicles plying the road.

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    The forests along the Ubulu-Uku/Issele-Uku Road are infested with armed terrorists who routinely attack and kidnap travellers on the road. The Yuletide attacks on the road were suspected to have been carried out by militants who have been having a free reign on that particular road. The incidents were all reported to the police. The Ubulu-Uku/Aniagbala/Ubulu-Okiti Road is another hotspot for the armed hoodlums.

    Against this background, we appeal to our governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to come to our aid to protect the lives of our people. We urge the governor to deploy relevant security agencies to investigate the attacks, forestall further incidents and restore free movement to neighbouring communities.

    The Ubulu-Uku Kingdom Descendants Central Union (UKDCU) appreciates Governor Oborevwori’s untiring efforts in delivering on his M.O.R.E. agenda to Deltans. Ubulu-Uku has always been a peaceful community, with farming as the main occupation of the people. We desire to keep it that way and pledge to collaborate with your administration in sustaining peace in our dear state and fostering development.

    •Peter Udene Ugbaja (President-General),

    &

    Dr. Chinedu Osaji (Secretary-General)

    For Ubulu-Uku Kingdom Descendants Central Union.