By Austin Oyibode
Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North in the National Assembly, has raised alarm over the growing insecurity threatening lives and livelihoods in Delta North, urging the state government to take immediate steps and empower local vigilante groups to secure rural communities.
Speaking during a recent Senate plenary, the lawmaker painted a grim picture of the situation on the ground, where farmers are being driven from their lands by violent herdsmen. “Insecurity is everywhere,” Nwoko stated. “I come from Delta North. In every farm in Delta, herdsmen are terrorising and killing our farmers. Our farmers can no longer go to the farm.”
Despite Delta's status as an oil-producing region, Senator Nwoko emphasized that many residents rely on agriculture for survival — a sector now under siege. “The areas that are not degraded cannot be farmed because of herdsmen,” he added, highlighting how both insecurity and environmental damage are compounding economic hardship in the region.
The Senator called on state authorities to complement federal efforts by strengthening grassroots security. “We need to ask state governors to make efforts in this regard,” he said. “Everything cannot be left to the federal government. The state governments must also form and fund vigilantes in every community.”
Backing his call with concrete action, Nwoko launched a grassroots security initiative on December 17, 2024, through which over 60 vigilante operatives from across Delta North were trained and equipped with communication gadgets. The program, held in Asaba in partnership with the Defence Space Administration, was aimed at boosting local capacity for community protection.
Speaking through his Director of Security, Comrade Joshua Opia, Senator Nwoko reaffirmed his commitment to promoting peace and development. “The progress of Delta North and Nigeria, in general, remains the centrepiece of my legislative agenda,” he said, encouraging vigilante members to remain disciplined and community-focused.
Vigilante leaders from Aniocha/Oshimili, Ika, and Ndokwa/Ukwuani shared their experiences and pledged continued dedication to safeguarding their communities. As security concerns deepen across Nigeria, Senator Nwoko's efforts shine a light on the urgent need for decentralized and proactive security models at the local level.
