Following the abduction of former Delta State Commissioner of Technical Education, Joan Onyemaechi, by gunmen and the subsequent murder of her security aide, the Initiative for Social Rights Concerns and Advancement (ISRCA) has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to disband the Operation Delta Hawk security outfit.
The group contends that Operation Delta Hawk has failed to effectively address the rising incidents of kidnappings, killings, and other criminal activities in the state. In a statement issued in Warri, ISRCA National Coordinator, Comrade Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, criticized the outfit for its current focus on vetting drivers’ licenses, car documents, and harassing residents, while also accusing it of extortion.
ISRCA argues that Operation Delta Hawk has strayed from its intended responsibilities and is poorly equipped and inexperienced in navigating local forests and bushes, undermining its original purpose. The group advocates for replacing Operation Delta Hawk with the Forest Hunters Volunteer Group and Anti-Cult Volunteers, who would operate directly under the supervision of the Delta State Police Command.
The group believes that Operation Delta Hawk, being comprised of various federal security agencies, should be redirected to their primary assignments, with their budget reallocations supporting the Forest Hunters Volunteer Group and Anti-Cult Volunteers as state security entities. This shift, they argue, would not only enhance local employment, as these groups consist mainly of Delta indigenes but also more effectively address issues of kidnapping and terrorism in rural areas.
ISRCA also highlighted the critical level of insecurity in the state, noting that even government officials are not safe. They expressed condolences to the family of the slain police aide and stressed the need for proactive measures from the state government to tackle security issues. The group urged the government to support local security efforts by funding and providing logistics to the Forest Hunters Volunteer Group and Anti-Cult Volunteers, suggesting that disbanding Operation Delta Hawk would better allocate resources to these state-based security initiatives.
