Chairman of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli, has raised alarm over the rising wave of insecurity in Delta State, attributing it largely to the state government’s failure to implement the Anti-Open Grazing and Prohibition Law enacted in 2021.

Speaking with The Guardian in Asaba on Monday, Enebeli called on the state government to take immediate action to combat the rising insecurity.

Enebeli urged the government to fund and equip the committee responsible for implementing the Anti-Open Grazing Law. He also emphasised the need for broader community engagement focused on developing ranches for herders, which he said could generate long-term economic value for the state.

“The activities of scavengers, commercial tricycle (Keke) and motorcycle riders in both urban and rural areas must also be addressed to restore public safety,” Enebeli added.

Also weighing in on the issue, National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade, condemned what he described as the government’s lack of political will to enforce the law, originally designed to mitigate conflicts between herders and farmers.

He emphasised that the state’s failure to act has created a breeding ground for violent crimes, including kidnappings, armed robbery, and herder-related attacks, especially in Delta Central and Delta North senatorial districts.

“There has been a disturbing surge in kidnapping activities, particularly on major highways such as the Sapele-Effurun Road, the East-West Road between Agbarho and Ughelli, and the Ughelli-Patani axis. Travelling on these roads now feels like tempting fate; it takes a miracle to pass unhurt,” he said.

The prohibition law, passed nearly four years ago, was intended to resolve long-standing tensions between herders and farmers by regulating livestock movement and promoting peaceful coexistence. However, Mulade lamented that the law has remained largely on paper.

“This legislation was a significant step aimed at reducing conflict, enhancing agricultural productivity, and promoting economic stability. But without enforcement, these goals remain unattainable,” he said.

Mulade pointed out that continued encroachment by cattle on farmlands has led to the destruction of crops and deepened economic hardship for local farmers.