A group, South-South Professional & Transparency Initiatives (SSPTI), has appraised the level of violence recorded across the country, especially in Niger Delta region during the #EndBadGovernance protests
It scored the Delta State Government and security agencies very high in ensuring maximum control of uprisings across the state.
The body applauded the pro-activeness of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in protest boycott campaigns to various communities prior to the August 1 date and the professionalism exhibited by security agencies, mostly Delta Police Command led by CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, in curtailing the excesses of the protesters.
Making its assessment on the nationwide protests in a statement in Warri, SSPTI hinted that compare to other states, mostly in the Northern region, where protesters were seen to be violent and destructive, Delta state recorded zero destruction of property and minimal violence in some part of the state.
The body in a statement by Dr. Ugochukwu Alozie and Engr. Kayode Ayomide, Chairman and Secretary respectively, also commended the men and officers of the various military formations in the state, especially the troops of 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Asaba, as well as men and officers of 3Battalion, Effurun barracks near Warri, for providing maximum security at strategic locations in the state.
According to the statement; “Just as the dust of the recent nationwide protests settled, We, the members of the above named organization have taken it upon ourselves to do a general appraisal of the violence that characterized the protests with a view of determining how best to have a violent-free protests in the country going forward “.
“Having observed that Delta state is one of the states that recorded an insignificant level of violence during the 10-Day period of the protests, especially within the South-South region, we decided to conduct a research on how the state was able to curtail the protests from being violent as we have experienced in other states, particularly in the North.
“Our research revealed that the State Governor, Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, had engaged the traditional rulers across the three (3) Senatorial districts, as well as the various community and youth leaders in a boycott sensitization campaigns of the protest and the need to be very peaceful even if they must embark on any at all in their areas.
“We also observed the zeal and commitment with which the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under Delta state Command, ably led by CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, carried out their law enforcement mandate diligently all through the duration of the protests. They were able to display high level professionalism on the job while dealing with the protesters”.
“Reliable information from our field officers has it that CP Abaniwonda, opened a Special Protest Situation Monitoring Room that was furnished with sophisticated communication gadgets that were distributed to the field officers leading various units across the state from where incidences were reported as they unfolds and await further directives from the Command on the next line of action”.
“We are indeed happy to say that CP Abaniwonda has provided leadership to his men and officers at the Command since his resumption. This is evident in the reduction of crimes and other social vices in the state, particularly in Warri, Uvwie, Udu and Ughelli areas that used to be notorious for all sorts of violent crimes in recent past.
“We cannot conclude this report if we failed to acknowledge the role played by the military in this protests. The troop of the 63Brigade, Asaba under Brigadier General Ugochukwu Vitus Unachukwu, were very outstanding all through this period, as they conducted themselves professionally in their various post”.
It added: “Also not forgetting officers and men of the 3Battalion, Effurun Barracks, Uvwie Local Government, for their synergy with the police. The Commanding Officer (CO) Rear, Major Ohegbe Augustine, provided the needed leadership by ensuring that his men were well positioned while he embarked on regular patrol and using his drone to monitor activities in other locations.
“And finally, we also want to appreciate Deltans for their understanding and law abiding dispositions throughout the duration of the protests. We are not unmindful of the fact that Deltans are not going through the hardships experienced in the country today but choose to be more tolerance and give the government time to do the needful in addressing the situation “