By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Fresh concerns have emerged over escalating violence in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, as stakeholders warn that the oil-rich community is fast descending into a cycle of killings driven by power struggles and economic interests.
A legal practitioner and public commentator, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, in a strongly worded intervention, described the situation as a deepening crisis marked by frequent loss of lives, fear, and growing insecurity among residents.
According to him, what was once a peaceful and united community has become a theatre of recurring violence, with young men and women bearing the brunt of the clashes.
He linked the unrest to intense competition over oil-related benefits, including access to contracts, political influence and control of local structures, noting that such rivalries have increasingly turned deadly.
The commentator pointed out that despite Omoku’s vast crude oil wealth, the expected dividends of development—such as steady electricity, jobs and improved living standards—have remained largely absent, further fuelling frustration and tension.
He observed that cult groups, rival youth factions and politically motivated actors have continued to exploit the situation, with many young people either recruited into violent networks or caught in attacks.
Ahiakwo stressed that the persistence of the killings is largely due to weak accountability, arguing that perpetrators are rarely brought to justice, thereby emboldening further violence.
He also noted that earlier warning signs, including rising tensions and declining infrastructure, were ignored, allowing the crisis to fester into its current state.
While acknowledging the role of local security outfits such as the OSPAC vigilante group in maintaining some level of order, he said their efforts remain insufficient without stronger coordination and oversight from formal security agencies.
The intervention called for improved intelligence gathering, community policing, and strict adherence to the rule of law, warning that unregulated local security operations could undermine public trust.
He further urged political actors to desist from using violence as a means of gaining or retaining power, insisting that sponsors of violence must be identified and prosecuted.
To address the root causes, Ahiakwo advocated expanded economic opportunities, youth engagement, and rehabilitation programmes for those willing to abandon violence, alongside active involvement of traditional and religious leaders in peacebuilding.
He maintained that early warning signals from communities must be taken seriously to prevent further escalation, stressing that the crisis is human-driven and sustained by silence, revenge and weak law enforcement.
The situation in Omoku, he warned, presents a stark contradiction of wealth amid hardship, with the central question lingering over who truly benefits from the continued bloodshed.
