If the Chief Security Officer Is Not Safe, Who Is…? Sapele Residents Confront A Scary Reality

By Endurance Ikanone

Long before the recent shock that rippled through Sapele, there had already been signs indicating something was not quite right. When the U.S. Department of State issued its advisory urging citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria, many people read it, discussed it briefly, and moved on. It felt distant, almost abstract. But today, in Sapele, that warning feels immediate, real, and deeply personal.

Because in a place where a sitting local government chairman, the chief security officer of the local government area can be abducted in such a daring manner, the question now hovers in the air: who then is safe?

For the ordinary resident, this is no longer a political issue or a headline story; it is a lived reality. The trader who once ran his business untill late now closes shop before dusk. Even commercial drivers grow wary of certain routes when it is dark and parents insist on tighter routines for their children.

Then, what used to be a normal daily life routine is quietly being adjusted in response to a growing sense of vulnerability.

A new sense of discernment speedily setting in to infer that vulnerability is not just about the act itself, but what it represents. The surprises continue to hurt our sensibilities as one imagines that if someone, who has unrestricted access to security structures, influence, and protection can be taken so easily, then the hope of the average citizen with regard to safety frighteningly dips. The uncertainties create a ripple effect, fear travels faster than facts, and perception begins to crumble under unpredictable circumstances.

Yet, even as fear spreads, there are visible actions by the authorities that reassure confidence. The arrival of the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, in Sapele signalled that authorities are treating the situation with urgency. Oyeniyi’s on the spot operational assessment, accompanied by the Area Commander, Victor Bassey, and local government officials, was not only symbolic, but strategic.

At Debro Fred Guest House along Owumi Road, where the abduction of the sitting Sapele local government chairman, Hon. Bright Abeke took place, the police chief conducted a detailed inspection, engaging and gathering firsthand information. The visit extended to Ogorode Waterside, where a critical breakthrough had already emerged, the recovery of the vehicle allegedly used by the kidnappers. For investigators, that discovery could provide forensic leads and intelligence trails that may prove decisive in tracking down those responsible.

The Commissioner’s visit to the residence of the chairman’s wife also carried weight, not just as a gesture of empathy but as reassurance that the operation to secure the release of Hon. Bright Abeke remains active and prioritized. His visit to medical facilities where injured victims are receiving treatment further emphasized the human cost of the incident and the need for swift resolution.

According to CP Oyeniyi, the Delta State Police Command is working with credible intelligence, in collaboration with other security agencies, and has deployed adequate manpower to close in on the perpetrators. It is a message meant to restore confidence, but for many residents, confidence will ultimately depend on results. Because beyond the immediate response lies a deeper concern: preparedness to do the needful.

In a town like Sapele, the role of the Nigeria Police Force, Marine Unit cannot be ignored. The waterways are not just geographical features; they are strategic corridors. If criminal elements can exploit them as escape routes, then the absence of real time surveillance and rapid marine response becomes a serious weakness. Many residents believe that if the marine division were fully equipped and operationally proactive, it could have played a critical role in intercepting any escape attempt through the creeks.

This is not about apportioning blame, but about identifying gaps in a system that must evolve.

Truth is, security in riverine communities demands a dual approach, land and water must be monitored with equal intensity.

Attention also turns to the Divisional Police Officer in Sapele, CSP Idoko Okwudili Zeletus. Barely two months into his posting, he faces a defining moment.

Suffice it to say that Sapele is not just another jurisdiction; it is a complex environment where success depends on intelligence and mutual relationships, with a guide through local knowledge.

Therefore, to truly secure the area, policing must go beyond patrols, it must involve building trust, strengthening informant networks, and anticipating threats before they materialize.

To complement the operations of the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) has a critical role to play. Crimes of this scale do not happen in isolation; they often involve planning, coordination, and movement that can be detected through effective intelligence work.

On that score, strengthening surveillance and disrupting criminal networks before they act must become a priority, not an afterthought.

However, for residents of Sapele, the unfolding institutional responses are measured against one simple expectation, safety. And right now, that sense of safety feels uncertain among the people.

Lately, life in Sapele is gradually changing in subtle but noticeable ways. The once lively evening atmosphere is becoming quieter, movements are more cautious, and everyday conversations are now filled with uncertainty and “what ifs.”

Many residents can’t help but reflect on the past, particularly the era of the late Commander Liberty Kunu, when criminal activities were met with swift action and accountability. Back then, there was a strong sense that anyone who committed a crime would be tracked down and brought to justice.

Now, with his absence, there are growing concerns as signs of crime begin to resurface.

This has left many wondering whether the town may be slowly drifting back to a period they had long hoped was behind them.

What is happening now is more than a security incident, it is a test of systems, leadership, and trust. The swift actions of the police command offer some reassurance, but they also highlight the scale of the challenge. Preventing such incidents in the future will require more than reactive measures; it will demand sustained, coordinated, and intelligence driven efforts across all security agencies.

And so the question remains, echoing through streets, markets, and homes: if the chief security officer of the local government can be so vulnerable, what assurance exists for everyone else?

The answer will not come from words alone. It will come from what happens next, how quickly the abducted chairman is found, how effectively those responsible are brought to justice, and how decisively the visible gaps in the system are addressed.

Until then, Sapele watches, waits, and hopes that this moment becomes a turning point rather than the beginning of a deeper crisis.