Abraka youths, numbering over 200, have taken over the streets of the university community to draw the attention of the state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to serial cases of kidnapping in the community.

In a peaceful protest on Wednesday at Police Station Junction in Abraka, the concerned youths expressed frustration over the prolonged and unchecked insecurity that has plagued the university community for more than a decade.

They decried the withdrawal of children from the university for fear of their safety, adding that landlords have also abandoned their homes, becoming tenants in safer regions.

According to the protesting youths, many residents have fled Abraka, leaving behind their investments and ancestral homes, lamenting that student enrollment is rapidly declining as school dropouts increase, in addition to farming activities that are drastically reducing due to fear of attacks in farmlands.

A protest letter to the governor cited by The Guardian with the Subject: “A Passionate Appeal to Address the Worsening State of Insecurity in Abraka Community” read in part: “We, the concerned residents and stakeholders of the Abraka community, write to express our deep anguish and growing frustration over the prolonged and unchecked insecurity that has plagued our town for more than a decade.

“Abraka has tragically transformed into a hotbed for kidnapping, rape, and senseless killings, now occurring with alarming frequency and near-total impunity. What initially appeared as isolated incidents has since evolved into a coordinated and emboldened criminal enterprise, operating in broad daylight without fear of consequence.

“Despite the severity and persistence of this crisis, the response from both government and security agencies has been grossly inadequate, leaving our people to suffer in fear and silence.

“Today, we engage in a peaceful protest to publicly air our grievances and demand immediate, effective, and sustainable action from both the government and the security agencies. This protest is not an act of rebellion—it is a desperate cry for help, born out of years of suffering, neglect, and abandonment.

“We are particularly appealing to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, to take urgent and strategic steps, including: Increasing police manpower in Abraka with well-trained and properly equipped officers to restore confidence in local security operations.

“Deploying modern, 21st-century digital surveillance equipment, including drones, CCTV cameras, and communication systems, to monitor and deter criminal activities.

“Constituting a special security task force—comprised of police, military, and local intelligence personnel—to identify, flush out, and permanently secure the ungoverned areas within Abraka, which have served as operational bases and hideouts for kidnappers and criminals for over a decade.

“These actions are not optional—they are essential for restoring peace, protecting lives, and reviving the economic and social life of our beloved community.

“Let it be known that this is only the beginning. If our voices continue to be ignored, we will not hesitate to mobilise for larger protests at the Delta State Police Headquarters and the Government House in Asaba until concrete and lasting solutions are delivered.

“We appeal to you, our elected leaders and public servants, to treat this issue with the seriousness it warrants. The people of Abraka deserve to live in peace, free from the constant threat of violence.”