WARRI: Tension gripped Warri on Saturday after violent clashes erupted between Itsekiri and Urhobo youths at the Okere Roundabout, leaving several people injured and sparking fears of renewed ethnic conflict in Delta State.
In swift response, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori directed security agencies to arrest or neutralise anyone caught brandishing firearms or instigating violence in the troubled area.
In a strongly worded statement issued by his Executive Assistant on Security Matters, Udoka Emmanuel Chika-dibie, the governor warned that his administration would not tolerate unrest reminiscent of the deadly 1999 Warri crisis, which claimed dozens of lives and left scars that linger decades later.
The administration of His Excellency Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori will not condone unrest among the tribes in Warri South Local Government Area. Security agents have been directed to take firm action against anyone found culpable,” the statement read.
The governor stressed that security operatives had been instructed to immediately apprehend or neutralise anyone seen carrying arms, insisting that the state’s priority must be development and meaningful accomplishments, not fighting among us.
Eyewitnesses told Rapidospace News that the violent clash began on Saturday afternoon when groups of Itsekiri and Urhobo youths armed with rifles, cutlasses, and other weapons confronted one another near Okere Roundabout. Gunfire reportedly rang out as traders and commuters fled for safety.
A video obtained by this platform shows heavily armed youths exchanging fire while frightened bystanders ran for cover.
Initially, police officers stationed nearby were accused of standing by without intervening. However, reinforcements from the Nigeria Police Force later stormed the area, dispersing the warring groups with tear gas.
Several individuals sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to nearby hospitals. The exact number of casualties remains unclear as of press time.
Governor Oborevwori appealed to residents to shun tribal divisions and support peace efforts, adding that his administration is determined to ensure such clashes do not derail the state’s development goals.
We are still grappling with the aftermath of the 1999 crisis and cannot afford to relapse. The government will take all necessary measures to prevent the escalation of tension in Warri, he assured.
Security operatives have since been placed on high alert, with additional patrols deployed across Warri South to forestall reprisals.
