Residents of Abraka community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State were thrown into panic yesterday as security operatives reportedly fired live rounds into the air in an attempt to disperse unarmed protesters demonstrating against the escalating cases of kidnapping in the area.
The protest, which had entered its fifth consecutive day, took a chaotic turn when security agents moved into the popular protest site, allegedly opening fire to force the crowd to vacate the area. Though no lives were lost, a protester reportedly sustained a facial injury, with witnesses describing a scene of confusion and fear as demonstrators fled for safety.
The protests, which began last week, were a response to the unrelenting wave of abductions in the university town—home to Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka. Residents, including students, had gathered daily at a central junction with placards, demanding immediate intervention from both the state government and security agencies.
The demonstration gained further traction when students of DELSU, led by the president of the Students Union Government (SUG), Augustine Onovughegor, joined the protest. On May 29, the students issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, demanding decisive action against the kidnappers terrorising the community.
Speaking at the protest venue, the Area Commander, acting on the directive of the police commissioner, addressed the crowd and assured them of renewed efforts to tackle insecurity in the town. He pledged that law enforcement officers would intensify search operations, including combing suspected hideouts in the surrounding bushes, but urged the protesters to allow time for the operations to yield results.
Despite these assurances, tensions escalated after some protesters reportedly refused to leave the venue, insisting on visible action rather than promises. According to a source, the situation worsened when a protester allegedly hurled a stone at a security operative. This act was said to have provoked the officers, leading to the use of gunfire to forcefully disperse the remaining crowd.
In a reaction to the incident, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed that the Commissioner of Police had mandated the Area Commander to handle the situation. He explained that while the protesters had since been dispersed, there was no verified report of any fatal shooting.
“We heard that someone was allegedly shot, but up till now, no one has brought the supposed victim to the police or even identified them by name or location,” Edafe stated in response to questions from journalists. “If they claim someone was injured, they should provide the details. We cannot act based on hearsay.”
However, community sources maintain that one protester sustained a serious facial wound during the chaos, though there has been no official medical report or identification of the injured individual at the time of this report.
Tensions remain high in Abraka as residents continue to lament the frequency of kidnappings, which they allege are being met with insufficient response from local security operatives. Some citizens expressed concern over the handling of the protest, accusing law enforcement officers of heavy-handedness rather than addressing the root cause of the unrest.
The SUG president, who led the student contingent away from the protest ground after engaging with the Area Commander, warned that the students would resume protests if no concrete action is taken within 48 hours. He noted that the student community had grown tired of living under constant fear and insecurity.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement has been issued by the Delta State Government regarding the incident, but calls for justice, police reform, and genuine security intervention in Abraka continue to grow louder.
