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By Our Correspondent

The people of Abavo Kingdom in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State have raised a desperate alarm over a worsening wave of insecurity that has crippled farming activities and pushed the agrarian community to the brink of economic collapse.

In a strongly worded appeal to both the Federal Government and the Delta State Government, community leaders lamented that for over four years, relentless attacks by bandits and kidnappers have forced farmers off their lands, especially along the railway corridor now notorious as a safe haven for criminal gangs.

Once a thriving food-producing hub, Abavo’s vast stretches of fertile land now lie abandoned, as fear of abduction, injury, or death keeps farmers away. The result, according to the community, is nothing short of devastation.

Describing the situation as an “agricultural genocide,” the leaders warned that residents are increasingly unable to feed themselves, with livelihoods destroyed and hunger tightening its grip on the population.

The impact is already evident. Production of staple crops such as yam, cassava, plantain, pepper, vegetables, and tomatoes has plummeted sharply, triggering scarcity in local markets and driving up food prices. The crisis, they added, is also discouraging youth involvement in agriculture, further endangering the long-term economic stability of the area.

With the planting season underway, the community says time is running out.

They are demanding the immediate deployment of a joint security task force comprising the military, police, and railway security operatives to reclaim the railway corridor and safeguard surrounding communities.

In addition, they called for urgent logistical and operational support for local vigilante groups, including modern equipment and improved intelligence-sharing mechanisms to confront the criminal elements head-on.

The community also stressed the need for a coordinated security framework that brings together traditional institutions, local stakeholders, and formal security agencies to restore peace and confidence.

Warning of dire consequences if urgent action is not taken, the people said the crisis poses a serious threat not only to Abavo but to food security across the entire Ika region.

Beyond security, the community appealed to the Delta State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to urgently rehabilitate failed portions of the Abavo/Obiaruku expressway. They noted that reviving the road is key to restoring the once-bustling Oyoko market, now reduced to a shadow of its former self due to inaccessibility and declining economic activity.

Despite the grim reality, Abavo Kingdom says it remains hopeful that decisive government intervention can restore peace, revive agriculture, and return the community to its rightful place as a vital contributor to food production and national development.