Kidnapping: Business Owners, Entertainers Stage Protest In Abraka…DELSU SUG Tackles Organisers

By Enoch Jerome/Favour Ikeson 

A palpable sense of desperation hung in the air as business owners and entertainers took to the streets of Abraka today, converging at Police Station Junction to stage a protest against the alarming rise in kidnappings.

The demonstrators, comprising popular entertainers, restaurant owners, and shopkeepers, carried placards with poignant inscriptions such as “Stop Kidnapping in Abraka” and “Kidnapping na business 4 Abraka? We don tire.”

The protests held amid strong criticism by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) at Delta State University, Abraka.

The protesters alleged that the insecurity had dealt a devastating blow to their livelihoods, with customer turnout plummeting due to fear of kidnapping.

Hype man Awesome, a club owner, lamented, “The current situation is unsustainable. We want to live and work in a safe environment.

“The government and security agencies must take concrete steps to address this menace.”

Another protester, Hypeman Sele, echoed similar sentiments, “our businesses are dying. People are afraid to venture out, and we’re crying out for help. We need the government to do more to protect us and our businesses.”

READ ALSO: Alleged Assault: DELSU SUG Demands Immediate Removal Of Abraka DPO, Speaks On Looming Protests

The protesters appealed for increased security patrols, improved intelligence gathering, and swift action to rescue kidnapped victims and bring perpetrators to justice.

The protest was marked by singing, chanting, and sloganeering, as the entertainers and business owners drew attention to their plight.

The demonstrators’ message was clear: they will no longer tolerate the insecurity that’s crippling their businesses and threatening their lives.

In his reaction however, Comr. Augustine Onovughegor, President of the SUG at DELSU S, faulted the organisers for not following due process.

Speaking in telephone conversation, Onovughegor argued that the organisers ought to have notified security agencies and other relevant authorities before engaging in the mass action.

The SUG President emphasised that protests expose participants to potential danger, highlighting the need for security agents to safeguard lives and properties.

He noted that prior notification would allow the police to provide protection for the protesters.

“Let’s not forget that this is a student environment”, he said.

“There should be communication regarding the protest, letting the entire community be aware.

“The advantage of that communication is that the police will release vans to protect the students when they come out.”

DELSU Echo gathered that the protest is expected to continue tomorrow with demonstrators calling for mass participation.