𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐍 25 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐊𝐔𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲,(𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱),𝗔𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗮, 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲,

𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡:

1. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫,𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫,

𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬,𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐚,𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞.

2. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫,

63 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐞, 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐲,𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐚 ,𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞.

𝗦𝗶𝗿

𝐖𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺”, a security awareness and information-sharing group, write to bring to your urgent attention a brewing security crisis within the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗡𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗪), Illah Branch D, in 𝗢𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗚𝗔 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲. This crisis, if not swiftly addressed, has the potential to escalate into violent confrontations, disrupt public order, and compromise the peace and security in the 25 local government areas of the Delta State.

It is imperative to recall that in 2024, the people of 𝗢𝗸𝘂𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗚𝗔 suffered a tragic loss following the violent confrontation that led to the death of several Nigerian Army officers. Till date, Delta State is yet to fully recover from the outcomes of the actions and inactions of both sides. We do not wish for another security breach that could further destabilize our communities.

𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬:

• Intelligence gathered from Save Delta Platforms’ Security WhatsApp Group indicates an ongoing leadership tussle between one 𝐌𝐫.𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐍𝐰𝐚𝐝𝐢, the immediate past chairman of 𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐖 Illah Branch D, and 𝐌𝐫.𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐤𝐞, the incumbent chairman recognized by a Court of Appeal judgment.

• Despite the expiration of 𝐍𝐰𝐚𝐝𝐢’𝐬 tenure in August 2024, he has refused to relinquish power. The state 𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐖 Chairman, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐤𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐮, constituted a caretaker committee led by Igwebuike in November 2024 to oversee the branch pending new elections.

• In an attempt to enforce his chairmanship, 𝐈𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐤𝐞 allegedly sought the intervention of military personnel from the 63 Brigade, Asaba, to install him as chairman. However, 𝐍𝐰𝐚𝐝𝐢, having received prior information, evaded the intervention.

• Conversely, 𝐍𝐰𝐚𝐝𝐢 reached out to an associate of the 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐆𝐀, who in turn directed Lieutenant Hamza Shuaib, the military officer in charge of Oshimili North LGA, to ensure that Nwadi continues in office, despite the court judgment in favour of Igwebuike.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

1. 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀:

The involvement of the military in civil disputes, especially one already decided by a court of competent jurisdiction, is a violation of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the mandate of the Nigerian military. The use of armed forces to settle a union leadership dispute is unlawful and must be condemned.

2. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲:

It could be recalled that on January 25, 2025, Lieutenant Hamza Shuaib and his team allegedly flogged market women at the Ashi Eke Market, Ibusa in Oshimi North for refusing to observe the sanitation exercise. This pattern of military overreach in civil matters is worrisome and must be addressed before it escalates into more serious human rights violations.

3. 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀:

If urgent intervention is not taken, the ongoing leadership crisis within the 𝗡𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗪 Illah branch could lead to violent confrontations between rival factions, with devastating consequences for public safety.

4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

Security agencies and relevant stakeholders must ensure that the Court of Appeal judgment recognizing Igwebuike as chairman is respected and that the rule of law is upheld. The involvement of the military in enforcing leadership in a civilian union is unlawful and must be discouraged.

𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐒:

• Immediate investigation into the alleged use of military officers from the 63 Brigade, Asaba, in civil matters.

• Withdrawal of military interference in the 𝗡𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗪 leadership crisis and other civil matters in Delta State.

• Disciplinary action against 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐳𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐢𝐛 for alleged abuse of power in Oshimili North LGA.

• Deployment of police and DSS officers to de-escalate the situation and ensure lawful enforcement of the Court of Appeal ruling.

• Urgent intervention by the Delta State Government to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

We urge all security agencies and stakeholders to take swift action to prevent another security disaster in Delta State. The lessons from the 𝗼𝗸𝘂𝗮𝗺𝗮 community in Ughelli South crisis should not be ignored. We trust that this petition will receive the immediate attention it deserves.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆,

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗷𝗲𝗶 (𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝘅)𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁,𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀”

Cc:

1. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞.

2. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥,𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞.

3. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧,𝐎𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯’𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚.

4. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧,𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬(𝗡𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗪)

5. 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞.

6. 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬.