…Macaulay condemns rising insecurity, calls for traditional cleansing and community policing
Fear and outrage have gripped the Owhelogbo community in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State following the third ritual-style killing in just eight months.
The latest victim, Mercy Odhegba, a Point of Sale (POS) operator, was brutally murdered in Warri by unidentified assailants believed to be ritualists.
The persistent killings, now totaling three within a short period have raised grave concerns over the growing insecurity in the area and the failure of conventional security structures to prevent targeted, gruesome crimes.
During a condolence visit to the bereaved family on Tuesday, former Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG) and traditional leader, Chief Ovuozourie Macaulay, condemned the spate of killings and described the situation as heartbreaking and unacceptable.
“We must act fast to curb this menace,” Macaulay said. “Just within eight months, we have recorded three different killings in this community. This is disturbing. Tomorrow, it could be anyone.”
Macaulay, who holds the title of Okiroro of Isoko Nation, emphasized that prayers alone are not enough. He urged the community to combine spiritual, traditional, and proactive security measures to confront the growing danger.
He also charged community leadership organs to urgently devise coordinated strategies to halt the killings.
Calling for the adoption of community policing, Macaulay stressed that combating crime at the grassroots demands local solutions.
“Community policing is highly desirable if we are to reduce crime in rural and semi-urban areas like Owhelogbo. It cannot be business as usual,” he stated.
He also urged residents to take personal responsibility for the security of their environment. According to him, landlords, parents, and youth leaders must be vigilant and proactive in identifying suspicious individuals and activities within the community.
“As landlords and leaders, we must monitor who lives among us. Suspicious behavior must be reported to security agencies. Without intelligence, they cannot act. The safety of Owhelogbo is everyone’s business,” he added.
The tragic murder of Mercy Odhegba has once again exposed the fragile state of security in Delta’s interior communities, prompting renewed calls for urgent government intervention, robust local surveillance, and community-driven protection efforts.
Stakeholders fear that unless swift and decisive action is taken, Owhelogbo and similar communities could become hotspots for ritual and targeted killings, further deepening public fear and distrust in the security apparatus.