After Tragedy: Time for Action, Not Statements

By: Prince Martins Sadoh

The pain in Ukhomunyio is still fresh. Recently I joined positive minded to respond to the statement from the “UKHOMUNYIO STAKEHOLDERS GROUP” titled: An Urgent Appeal on Security in Okpella (Mr. S.S Afemikhe, et al, May, 2026)

They got some things right. Kidnapping is spreading. Three of our men are gone. Children were taken and ransoms paid. The killing of Aliyu Dickson was heartbreaking. I stand with every family grieving a loss. No community should carry that weight.

But their statement missed the point. Naming “youths from one section” of the community turned a community problem into a sectional blame game. That doesn’t unite us. That divides us.

In a crisis, people don’t need more analysis of the wound. They need a bandage. They need action. Announcing ₦2 million in rewards after people have been killed and children abducted feels like locking the door after thieves have left. What difference would that money have made if it was released earlier to equip our local vigilantes, fund patrols, and work with police?

Issuing statements after tragedy is easy. Preventing tragedy is leadership. Right now what we have is noise, not work. And noise doesn’t stop violence.

I also want to appeal directly to all contestants to the Okpella traditional stool, and to those who sponsored and supported them. The throne is occupied. For the sake of peace and progress, I urge everyone to accept the reality, accept the outcome, and join hands with the current king HRM. Micheal O. Sado to build our community. This is not the time for writings, posts, or press releases that heat up tensions or instigate communal violence. Our community has bled enough. What we need now are builders, not more battle lines.

If we truly love Okpella, then let’s prove it. Fund the vigilantes. Back the traditional council. Engage the youth with jobs, skills, and responsibility before they pick up guns. Condemn violence, but also remove the conditions that make violence look like the only option.

Mourning is important. But if mourning is all we do, we are only preparing for the next funeral. Ukhomunyio deserves more than press releases. It deserves protection.

This version calls out both contestants + sponsors without being accusatory.