The Delta government has pledged a swift response to the rising wave of armed robberies targeting phone and gadget dealers in Asaba.

The secretary to the state government, Kingsley Emu, gave the assurance on Monday while receiving protesting dealers at the Government House, Asaba.

Mr Emu reaffirmed the government’s resolve not to allow criminal elements to undermine the state’s reputation for safety and public order.

He acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised and reiterated the administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

The SSG said the government had begun implementing strategic security measures to decisively address the threat.

He disclosed that a high-level meeting would be convened with relevant security agencies, including intelligence units, to assess the incidents and deploy targeted interventions.

Mr Emu restated the importance of properly documenting reported cases and urged affected traders to nominate representatives to attend a closed-door meeting with him and security operatives.

He, however, cautioned that emerging patterns suggested possible insider involvement in some of the attacks, noting that such a dimension would require careful, intelligence-led operations.

The SSG noted that the state had largely maintained a peaceful environment compared to many parts of the country, assuring that the current security challenge would be addressed with urgency and precision.

“We will address this situation decisively. In a matter of weeks, the impact of our interventions will become evident,” he said.

Mr Emu also urged business owners to strengthen internal security measures within their establishments, describing them as the first line of defence against criminal infiltration.

He added that relevant intelligence and details would be forwarded to security agencies to fast-track action, and appealed for patience and continued collaboration with government efforts to restore confidence and security in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Victor Uche, a phone dealer, decried the alarming rise in armed robbery attacks targeting dealers in the state.

Mr Uche said Asaba, once regarded as one of the safest cities in Nigeria, had recently witnessed a troubling surge in crime, particularly repeated attacks on businesses. According to him, the incidents had escalated from isolated cases occurring months apart to brazen operations now carried out almost weekly.

He added that some victims had video evidence of the robberies and expressed concern that the perpetrators appeared emboldened, allegedly due to perceived gaps in security response.

Mr Uche highlighted the significant financial losses suffered by business owners and appealed to the state government to take urgent and decisive action to restore safety and protect lives and property. 

(NAN)