Thousands of protesters on Tuesday blocked major roads and the popular Five Junction in Agbarho town in Delta State over the continued abduction and questionable disappearance of children in the last twelve months from the city.
It was gathered that Tuesday’s protest followed the alleged fresh abduction of some children, with one of them being a child of a key leader of the community on Monday.
Although the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the children remain unclear at the time of filing this report, residents alleged that some children were reportedly kidnapped from certain areas of the densely populated community.
The incident, according to the protesters, was raising fresh security concerns and panic amongst parents, especially as schools had just resumed for the new academic session.
The protesters, comprising residents and the families of victims, barricaded major roads and prevented vehicular movements while businesses and offices were locked for several hours.
The protesters called Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Delta State Police Command to urgently address the ugly trend, alleging that tens of children had reportedly been declared missing or abducted in the last one year from the town.
One of the protesters, Aghogho Imoni, who spoke with journalists, accused security agencies in the town of paying lip service to the constant disappearance of children in various parts of the city, alleging that some of the missing victims are yet to be found.
He disclosed that some children, including a child of one of the community leaders, were reported to have been missing after they left for school on Monday.
A woman, Princess Akpo, said parents were living in fear following the questionable disappearance, adding that children are abducted in the community every week, and lamented the inaction of the state government and security agencies.
The protesters, who also stormed the palace of the Osuvie (king) of Agbarho Kingdom and Agbarho police station, vowed to continue the protest until the missing children were rescued from their abductors.
Recall that the Osuvie of Agbarho Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Sampson Ogugu I, had four months ago demanded the removal of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Agbarho Divisional Police Headquarters over the spate of insecurity in the town.
