Proprietors of patent medicine shops in riverine areas of Delta State have called on the state government to clarify the purpose of recent visits by operatives of Operation Delta Sweep (ODS) to medicine outlets in parts of Bomadi and surrounding communities.
They said the visits have sparked unease within the local business community, as shop owners are uncertain about the mandate of the task force and how it affects law-abiding businesses.
Operation Delta Sweep is a joint security outfit set up by the Delta State Government to tackle crimes such as kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, and illegal bunkering. The task force typically increases patrols during festive seasons to enhance public safety.
Some patent medicine vendors said the presence of security personnel around their shops has caused anxiety, with a few proprietors temporarily shutting down their businesses to avoid possible disruption while they await clearer direction from authorities.
A retailer, who preferred not to be named, said, “We understand and respect the role of security agencies, but many of us don’t know why patent medicine stores are being visited. It has made some shop owners uneasy, and people sometimes close their shops until there is clarity.”
Another vendor in a nearby community shared similar concerns, noting that the situation has heightened fears among shop owners who believe their operations are already regulated by relevant government agencies. A medicine seller in Bomadi-Overside also urged better coordination among government bodies, saying clearer communication would reduce confusion and reassure legitimate business operators.
Collectively, the proprietors appealed to the Delta State Government and relevant authorities to clearly outline enforcement responsibilities, stressing the need to protect lawful businesses while still ensuring public safety.
Meanwhile, the Director-General on Security Matters in Delta State, Dr. David Tonwe, had last week announced the deployment of Operation Delta Sweep operatives to key locations across the state as part of efforts to maintain peace during the festive period. He explained that the operatives were assigned to curb cultism, drug abuse, kidnapping, and other forms of public disorder.
Attempts to reach Dr. Tonwe for comments on the concerns raised by the patent medicine vendors were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
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