By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Delta State Government has come under intense criticism from the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) over what it described as a brutal and undemocratic crackdown on peaceful protesters in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area. The protest, led by students and concerned residents, was aimed at drawing attention to the town’s worsening security situation, especially rampant kidnappings and armed attacks.
Instead of engaging with the protesters or addressing the security concerns raised, the government allegedly responded by deploying military personnel who opened fire on unarmed civilians. The Delta Online Publishers Forum, in a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, condemned the move, calling it a shameful abuse of power and a betrayal of democratic values.
“The Delta State Government chose to deploy military personnel to quell a peaceful protest rather than respond with empathy and solutions to the deteriorating security situation,” said Emmanuel Enebeli and Shedrack Onitsha, chairman and secretary of DOPF, respectively, in a jointly signed statement.
According to the Forum, disturbing video footage circulating on social media shows soldiers in uniform shooting at unarmed demonstrators, some of whom were prominent figures such as the President of the Students’ Union Government, Comrade Onos Austin; the Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Tennyo; and even the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Comrade Okoh Ezekiel.
“The same military force the government has failed to deploy against criminal gangs responsible for daily kidnappings was quickly unleashed on defenseless citizens who simply demanded protection. It sends a troubling message about whose lives matter to those in power,” the statement noted.
The Forum further accused the government of hypocrisy, referencing Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s recent “State of the State” address where he assured citizens and investors of his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
“That promise now appears hollow,” the Forum said. “Instead of dialogue, what we witnessed in Abraka was gunfire. Instead of leadership, we got repression.”
DOPF urged both the Delta State and Federal Governments to tread carefully and stop the use of military force against civilians. It warned that the painful memory of Okuama—where military action resulted in tragic consequences—should not be repeated.
“The way forward is not through bullets and intimidation but through meaningful engagement, justice, and a genuine commitment to the security and rights of the people,” the Forum emphasized.
As Abraka reels from the chaos, many are now questioning whether the government is more interested in silencing its citizens than solving their problems. For the residents who took to the streets, the message was clear: they want safety, not silence.