Residents of Abraka, a university town in Delta State, have launched daily mass protests to confront the growing wave of insecurity plaguing their community.
The protests erupted following the May 25 abduction of a student, Clinton Udomudo, and his brother, who had gone to deliver ransom to kidnappers. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the incident triggered widespread outrage and mobilized the community into action.
Protesters marched with placards that read: “No to kidnapping in Abraka,” “We are tired of the insecurity in Abraka,” “The police should come to our rescue,” and “Delta State government should protect citizens; it is our right.” They accused the police of failing to take concrete steps to safeguard the community from rampant criminal activity.
On May 29, the situation escalated when students of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the State Commissioner of Police. They demanded immediate action to curb the rising insecurity and warned that they would intensify their protests by taking them to the state police headquarters and the Government House in Asaba if authorities failed to respond.
In a letter signed by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Augustine Onovughegor, and Secretary, Bassey Etim, the students called on the police to:
Deploy additional, well-trained security personnel to all student-dominated areas and major access roads.
Establish a permanent, rapid-response task force dedicated to protecting students and the community.
Provide immediate, transparent updates on current security measures and a clear roadmap for ensuring ongoing protection.
The SUG declared that failure to implement these demands within the given timeframe would force them to fully join the protests, shut down academic activities, and mobilize students from every faculty and hostel for a mass demonstration in Asaba.
“For too long, kidnappers, violent criminals, and rapists have terrorized students and residents while authorities offer empty promises,” the students and residents said in a joint statement. “Criminals raid dormitories, abduct students, and destroy families, while the people sworn to protect us remain silent and inactive.”
They condemned the government’s inaction and emphasized the vital role students play in sustaining Abraka’s economy and social fabric. “Authorities have ignored our repeated pleas. It is unacceptable that we must now choose between our education and our safety,” they added.
“Our campus and community have become zones of fear, trauma, and daily threats—not centers of learning and growth.”
The SUG vowed to lead what they called “the largest student protest Abraka and Delta State have ever witnessed” if the government fails to take visible, decisive action within the 72-hour deadline.
