Stakeholders in Delta State have raised concerns over the rising cases of vandalism, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to infrastructure, public safety and economic stability.
The stakeholders, comprising community leaders, civil society groups and industry players, expressed worry over the destruction of public facilities, including pipelines, electricity installations and other critical infrastructure across parts of the state.
They noted that the increasing incidents have disrupted essential services, affected livelihoods and contributed to revenue losses, particularly in oil-producing communities.
Speaking on the development, some stakeholders attributed the surge in vandalism to unemployment, poverty and weak enforcement of existing laws, calling for urgent intervention by government and security agencies.
They also stressed the need for community engagement and sensitisation to discourage residents, especially youths, from engaging in destructive activities.
According to them, strengthening surveillance, improving intelligence gathering and ensuring prompt prosecution of offenders would help curb the menace.
The stakeholders further urged authorities to invest in job creation and social programmes to address the root causes of vandalism.
They warned that failure to tackle the situation could worsen insecurity and undermine development efforts in the state.
