By Sunday Apah
On Sunday night, Iyara Community in Warri South Local Government area of Delta State experienced an invasion by unidentified armed youths, resulting in the destruction of a building and injuries to several individuals.
According to local sources, the assailants, wielding guns, cutlasses, and other weapons, launched their attack at approximately 10:47 PM.
They fired shots into the air to intimidate residents, causing fear and chaos that led to injuries among a few members of the community.
Witnesses reported that many residents, including women and children, fled in panic as the attackers brandished their weapons to instill further fear.
It was noted that the aftermath of the assault left behind bullet-riddled walls and damaged commercial tricycles belonging to local residents.
The motivations behind the attack remain unclear; however, many speculate it may be linked to the recent wards delineation exercise announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Warri South area.
A credible source indicated that the assailants had previously attacked other locations within the local government to express their grievances regarding the wards delineation following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter.
In response to the incident, Comrade Isaac Agbateyinro, Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, stated that the identity of the perpetrators is still unknown.
He reported that upon learning of the incident, he swiftly mobilized security forces to the area.
“As of now, sufficient security personnel have been deployed, and they are maintaining law and order. I can assure you that peace has returned to the area,” he noted.
Chief Onoriode Okoh, a former youth leader and community stakeholder, expressed his astonishment regarding the violence, questioning what could drive such an attack that resulted in a building being burned and tricycles being damaged.
He emphasized the importance of unity among the various ethnic groups in the area, urging residents not to attach tribal sentiments to the violence.
Okoh also advised local youths to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to allow investigations to proceed in order to identify the individuals responsible for this grievous act.
“We do not want any ethnic divisions arising from this incident. The Urhobos, Itsekiris, and Ijaws have peacefully coexisted and intermarried for many years,” he reiterated.
He further stated that if there are concerns linked to the wards delineation in Warri South, individuals should communicate their grievances directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rather than fostering discord among long-standing community members.
Expressing gratitude toward the security agencies for their prompt response in restoring calm, Okoh remained hopeful that a thorough investigation would be conducted, and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Regarding the wards delineation in Warri South, legal practitioner Chief Robinson Ariyo criticized the manner in which the exercise was conducted by relevant stakeholders.
“I have observed the events leading to the INEC proposal for Warri Federal Constituency set for April 4, 2025, with great concern. We believe that failing to challenge errors allows for intellectual negligence,” he stated.
Ariyo further emphasized that the proposal is fundamentally flawed due to serious violations of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), INEC guidelines, and contempt of court.
He pointed out that INEC was aware of the pending appeal regarding the issue before conducting its proposal. “We remind INEC of the court processes served to it as of April 2, 2025, related to this matter,” he concluded.
