By Ejime Udueme
The people of Abavo Kingdom in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the Federal and Delta State Governments to urgently address the worsening insecurity that has crippled farming activities and endangered livelihoods in the community.
For more than four years, persistent attacks by bandits and kidnappers have forced farmers to abandon their farmlands, especially those located along the railway corridor, which residents say has become a hideout for criminal elements.
The continued violence has left vast areas of fertile land inaccessible, severely affecting agricultural productivity in what was once regarded as a major food-producing community.
Community leaders described the development as an “agricultural genocide,” warning that many residents can no longer feed their families because of the fear of being killed, injured, or kidnapped while going to their farms.
“Our people are suffering. Farmers can no longer access their land, and many families are struggling to survive. If nothing is done urgently, hunger and poverty will worsen in our kingdom,” a community leader said.
Residents noted that the prolonged insecurity has led to a sharp decline in the production of staple crops such as yam, cassava, plantain, pepper, vegetables, and tomatoes, resulting in scarcity in local markets and rising food prices.
They also expressed concern that the crisis is discouraging young people from embracing agriculture, thereby threatening the long-term economic future of the area.
As the planting season begins, the people of Abavo Kingdom called for immediate and coordinated intervention from relevant authorities, including the Delta State Government and the Federal Government.
Among their key demands is the urgent deployment of a joint security task force comprising the military, police, and railway security personnel to secure the railway corridor and surrounding communities.
They also requested logistical and operational support for local vigilante groups, including modern equipment and intelligence-sharing frameworks, to strengthen efforts against criminal activities.
“We need a collaborative security arrangement involving traditional rulers, community stakeholders, and government security agencies. That is the only way peace can return to our land,” another resident stated.
The community stressed that urgent action is needed to restore peace, protect lives, and revive farming activities in the peaceful agrarian kingdom.
They warned that failure to tackle the crisis promptly could have serious consequences for food security and economic sustainability, not only in Abavo Kingdom but across the entire Ika nation.
The people also appealed to the Delta State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to urgently rehabilitate failed portions of the Abavo/Obiaruku Expressway, describing it as a critical step toward reviving the once-thriving Oyoko Market, which they said has now become a shadow of its former self.
Despite the challenges, residents said they remain hopeful that with decisive government intervention, peace and normalcy will return, enabling the community to once again contribute meaningfully to food production and national development.
