ASABA, DELTA STATE — A joint security operation in Emede community, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, has turned violent, leaving several persons injured and properties, including residential buildings, destroyed by fire during a controversial raid carried out over the weekend.
The operation, conducted under Operation Delta Sweep by a combined team of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies, was reportedly launched to apprehend a suspected drug kingpin believed to be operating within the community.
According to eyewitness accounts, security operatives initially stormed a hotel where a birthday celebration was taking place after failing to locate the primary suspect elsewhere in the area. Guests at the event were reportedly searched, and attendees were asked to present their mobile phones for inspection as part of the operation.
Tension escalated when some youths at the gathering objected to the phone searches, leading to a confrontation that quickly spiralled into chaos. Witnesses said the disagreement between residents and security personnel intensified as more people gathered at the scene.
One eyewitness described the situation as rapidly deteriorating, stating that what began as a routine security check turned into a serious confrontation that disrupted the celebration and caused panic among guests.
As the standoff worsened, security operatives reportedly fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd and regain control of the situation. Several youths sustained injuries during the ensuing clash, while a security operative was allegedly attacked by an angry mob before being rescued by colleagues.
Further reports claimed that the security team later returned to the community with reinforcement units. In the aftermath, the hotel where the initial confrontation occurred was set ablaze, along with nearby residential buildings, raising concerns over the extent of destruction and use of force during the operation.
Efforts to obtain official comments from the spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, Hon. Comr. Warri Ovoke Friday, has called for calm, assuring residents that authorities are working to restore peace and stability in the affected community.
The council chairman, alongside the traditional ruler of Emede, HRM Johnson Egbo (Ewhiri II), security officials, and other stakeholders, visited the affected areas to assess the damage, sympathise with victims, and engage community leaders on ways to prevent further escalation.
He said relevant authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to ensure that normalcy is restored while investigations into the incident continue.
To prevent further unrest, the local government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew restricting movement in Emede between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., urging residents to comply fully with the directive.
Authorities have appealed for calm, urging residents to remain law-abiding as investigations proceed into the circumstances surrounding the operation and the resulting violence.
