The management of Delta State University has suspended academic activities over the ongoing insecurity affecting the institution’s environment.
The suspension was pronounced by the Vice Chancellor of Delta State University (DELSU), Professor Samuel Asagba, in a statement issued on Wednesday.
This comes ahead of an emergency security meeting convened by the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, scheduled for today, Thursday, at the Government House.
A statement from the university reads: “I wish to inform you all that due to the security situation in Abraka town, I have directed all our students to remain indoors today, Thursday, June 5, 2025, until Management is certain of the safety of both staff and students.
“Consequently, lectures and other academic activities will not hold today, Thursday, June 5, 2025. Let us all hope for a return to normality after the public holidays.”
Some residents of the state earlier called for urgent action from Governor Oborevwori following the killing of a young man by kidnappers. Kidnapping incidents have reportedly become widespread across the state, particularly in Abraka, where DELSU is located.
On Wednesday night, SaharaReporters reported how fresh violence erupted in Abraka earlier in the day following a deadly clash between security operatives and suspected kidnappers that left four suspects dead.
The incident, which took place in the Makati Bichi Area near the railway station, sparked a wave of reprisals targeting Hausa residents, with fears of full-scale ethnic conflict brewing.
A resident of the community who spoke to SaharaReporters said: “There have been a lot of kidnappings since the beginning of this year. So early this morning (Wednesday), some local hunters, railway station workers, and the police at Makati Bichi area went to rescue some kidnapped victims.
“So they were encountered by some herdsmen who were kidnappers; they had guns. Some of them even had some of the ransom money that they collected, and so many, many things. They started shooting, and the police and the hunters successfully killed some of the kidnappers.
“So later this afternoon, some northerners got angry and entered the bush. They saw people on the farm and killed two men.”
“The deceased persons were later taken by the police to their station,” the resident added.
Another source privy to the aftermath of the operation told SaharaReporters: “Due to the recent kidnappings and insecurities, few of the kidnappers were caught and killed today.”
The source added: “And they were identified as Hausa persons. Two policemen were attacked and killed as well by the kidnappers, so we heard. So the indigenes of Abraka are currently attacking all Hausa persons on sight.
“They are also threatening to burn down the Hausa Quarters at Abraka this evening.”
SaharaReporters learned that the tension appeared to have escalated following a recent student protest against the rising wave of abductions in the area.
A student who spoke to SaharaReporters explained: “There has been an increase in kidnapping lately here in Abraka so students protested about it… that led to what happened today where four kidnappers were killed by the police. So in response, the Hausas here were like those guys are innocent. Now they are entering the street with knives and cutlasses.”
“If you school in Abraka, Delta State, or have any relative that school there, tell them to stay safe,” the student source added.
Multiple videos and photos obtained by SaharaReporters show chaotic scenes across Abraka, including armed mobs roaming the streets, bodies lying in pools of blood, and buildings in Hausa-dominated areas under threat of attack.
