(DDM) – Fear and confusion have gripped several communities in Delta State as a wave of mysterious child disappearances continues to unsettle residents.
DDM gathered that the situation has become particularly tense in Agbarho Kingdom, located in Ughelli North Local Government Area, where multiple cases of missing minors have been reported in recent weeks.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has ordered an immediate investigation and directed security agencies to intensify efforts to recover every missing child.
The governor also instructed local vigilante groups and traditional leaders to strengthen surveillance within communities and ensure the protection of vulnerable children.
According to residents, the alarming rate of abductions has created a climate of fear, with parents keeping their children indoors and restricting movement even during daytime.
In response to the crisis, the traditional ruler of Agbarho Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Sampson Ogugu I, led community clerics and chiefs in a mass prayer session and public curse-laying ceremony.
The ritual, held at the community square, invoked spiritual judgment against those behind the abductions.
HRM Ogugu I warned that anyone involved in stealing or trafficking children would face divine punishment before December if they failed to repent and return the victims alive.
Witnesses told DDM that the event drew hundreds of anxious residents, many of whom wept openly while praying for the safe return of their children.
The atmosphere was charged with emotion, as traditional chants and Christian prayers echoed through the gathering.
However, tragedy struck shortly after when an irate mob lynched a woman accused of child theft in the area.
Authorities later identified the victim as mentally unstable and not connected to the alleged abductions.
Security operatives have since been deployed to restore calm and prevent further mob violence.
Police sources told DDM that the number of confirmed missing children remains unclear, though social media rumours of “over 50 abducted minors” have been dismissed as exaggerated.
Delta State Police Command said investigations are ongoing, and all local divisions have been placed on alert.
Community leaders have urged residents to remain vigilant but avoid taking the law into their own hands.
They warned that mob actions could jeopardize investigations and lead to further loss of innocent lives.
Parents and guardians in Agbarho told DDM that the recent disappearances have disrupted schooling and daily business activities in the area.
Some described living in constant fear, with many families no longer allowing their children to attend evening church services or markets unaccompanied.
Security analysts suggest that the disappearances may be linked to ritual activities or child trafficking syndicates operating in parts of the Niger Delta.
Governor Oborevwori has assured the public that his administration will deploy all available resources to track the perpetrators and rescue the victims.
He also called for cooperation between residents, community vigilantes, and law enforcement agencies to ensure accurate intelligence sharing.
The situation in Agbarho has renewed calls for improved community policing and tighter border surveillance across Delta State.
Residents continue to hope for a breakthrough in investigations, as prayers and anxiety dominate daily life in the troubled kingdom.
