Delta State University Halts Activities Amid Deadly Insecurity Crisis in Abraka
The management of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has suspended all academic activities due to escalating insecurity in the surrounding community. The decision was announced on Wednesday by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Asagba, following a spate of violent incidents that have left students and residents living in fear.
The announcement comes just hours before an emergency security meeting called by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, scheduled for Thursday at the Government House.
In an official statement issued by the university, Professor Asagba said:
“I wish to inform you all that due to the security situation in Abraka town, I have directed all our students to remain indoors today, Thursday, June 5, 2025, until Management is certain of the safety of both staff and students.
Consequently, lectures and other academic activities will not hold today. Let us all hope for a return to normality after the public holidays.”
The crisis stems from a series of violent incidents, including a deadly encounter between security forces and suspected kidnappers on Wednesday near the railway station in Makati Bichi area. According to reports, four alleged kidnappers were killed during a joint rescue operation involving local hunters, railway station staff, and police officers.
The suspects, reportedly armed herdsmen, were believed to have been involved in the kidnapping of local residents. Following the confrontation, reprisal attacks were launched against Hausa residents, sparking fears of ethnic conflict in the town.
One eyewitness told SaharaReporters:
“Some of the kidnappers had guns and even carried ransom money with them. After they were killed, Hausa youths retaliated by attacking local farmers, killing two men in the bush.”
Sources also confirmed that two policemen were killed during the clash. In the aftermath, tensions escalated rapidly, with reports of armed mobs roaming the streets, attacking Hausa residents, and threatening to burn down the Hausa quarters in Abraka.
Videos and images circulating online depict chaotic scenes: injured victims, burning buildings, and terrified students barricading themselves indoors.
The unrest follows a recent student protest over the rising wave of abductions in the area. One student said:
“We’ve been protesting the kidnappings because it’s becoming too much. After today’s clash, the tension exploded. Now, people are walking the streets with knives and cutlasses. It’s dangerous.”
Calls for swift action have intensified, with residents and students urging the Delta State Government to restore peace before the situation spirals further out of control.
For now, Delta State University remains on lockdown, as families across the country anxiously await news of their loved ones in Abraka.
