A Glimpse into the Creeks of Delta 

Among the 25 Local Government Areas in Delta State, Warri South West, Bomadi, Warri North, Patani, Burutu, and Ughelli South are located along the Atlantic Ocean and are recognized as oil-producing areas.

The primary livelihood for the inhabitants is fishing. Some local traders transport their goods from these areas to landlocked regions for sale.

A significant number of the population speaks Ijaw, while a smaller section communicate in Urhobo and Itsekiri. Pidgin English serves as a common means of communication among the Ijaws, Itshekiri, and Urhobo people.

The residents of these areas are known for their peaceful nature and exceptional hospitality toward visitors.

Over the years, the persistent underdevelopment has attracted the attention of key stakeholders, resulting in various forms of agitation.

Nonetheless, the Federal Government succeeded in negotiating peace in the region, which facilitated the implementation of amnesty programs that have benefited many individuals from these areas.

However, residents of these regions have consistently voiced concerns regarding the underdevelopment in the area.

A recent visit to these areas highlighted their struggles, as they deal with a lack of essential services such as roads, healthcare, electricity, and security.

For instance, the Uduophori Community in the Patani Local Government Area has been facing challenges related to herdsmen encroachments.

Locals have reported instances of violence, including killings, sexual assaults, and injuries inflicted on their community members.

On March 10, 2025, residents gathered at the junction to protest against the insecurity plaguing their area. They expressed their hope that the Governor would heed their pleas, as the herdsmen have hindered their ability to access their farms, which are vital for their livelihoods in fishing and agriculture. 

The most recent act of violence involved the severing of the hand of 28-year-old motorcycle rider Freedom Akpodiete, allegedly by the herdsmen terrorizing the Uduophori community.

This incident led to a significant disruption in vehicular traffic and commercial activities on the Bomadi/Patani road, as residents of Uduophori barricaded the sole access route to Bomadi and Burutu Local Government Areas for several hours.

The protesters stated that Mr. Freedom Akpodiete was a commercial motorcycle operator and a father of two, attacked while transporting a passenger to the Uduophori community.

 They characterized him as the primary provider for his family, including his elderly mother, who is also a widow.

Moreover, Uduophori community is grappling with a lack of electricity and is urging the government to take appropriate action to address their needs.

In the Bomadi Local Government Area, the newly sworn-in Council Chairman, Hon. Dagidi, is diligently working alongside investors to restore electricity to the region.

The residents of Bomadi appear to be pleased with their Council chairman, as they appreciate the developmental efforts he has initiated since assuming leadership of the riverine local government area.

Conversely, in Burutu LGA, although Chairman Hon. Julius Takeme is striving to fulfill the residents’ needs, locals have voiced concerns regarding the absence of electricity, water, and sanitation facilities.

The Delta School of Marine Technology in Burutu is the sole higher education institution in the area.

One local mentioned that the chairman constructed several blocks of toilets for the entire local government area, urging him to provide additional facilities, as residents still resort to defecating in the river, which also serves as their primary source of drinking water.

It was noted that the community has only a single primary health center and is in need of more healthcare facilities.

 The roads are constructed with concrete due to the nature of the terrain.