By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) campaign in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State took a dramatic turn at Cable Point, Asaba, as residents openly accused some police and NDLEA operatives of colluding with criminals and frustrating community safety efforts.
The sensitisation drive, led by NOA Deputy Director from Abuja Headquarters, Mr. Saturday Oriasotie, alongside the Chief Orientation and Mobilization Officer for Oshimili South, Deaconess Christy Kunu, and her assistant, Comrade Abel Johngold Orheruata, MNIPR, was aimed at educating citizens on government initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), and TraderMoni, while also promoting civic values, national unity, and disaster preparedness.
But residents of Cable Point seized the platform to voice deep frustration over insecurity and alleged corruption in law enforcement.
“We have caught criminals with heavy ammunition and handed them to the police, but they were released the same day after paying money,” a respected business leader told the NOA team. “Those boys even boasted at the mosque that they bailed themselves, lost their weapons, but would buy them back from the police. How can people trust the police under such conditions?”
Another resident accused NDLEA officials of collecting “returns” from drug dealers instead of dismantling their networks.
“The DSS and the Asagba of Asaba have shown commitment. DSS officers act swiftly and protect whistle-blowers. But the police not only free suspects, they also expose the very people who report them, putting our lives at risk,” he alleged.
Community leaders from the Hausa and Yoruba groups in Cable Point backed the claims, pointing out suspected hideouts of criminals in the neighbourhood. They also appealed for vocational training, particularly for young women, to reduce crime and hardship.
“Our children are dropping out of university because we didn’t know about NELFUND,” a Hausa leader said. “Government should help with vocational training like tailoring for our daughters. That will reduce poverty and crime.”
Despite the heavy allegations, the NOA team pressed on with its sensitisation message. Oriasotie emphasised the agency’s determination to reorient citizens on respect for national symbols, discourage naira mutilation, promote patriotism, and strengthen security awareness.
He reassured residents that NOA would remain a trusted platform for civic engagement, saying: “Our mission goes beyond sensitisation. It is about rebuilding trust, strengthening national unity, and ensuring that citizens have a voice in nation-building.”
