Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has directed security agencies to arrest or, if necessary, neutralise anyone found with arms following violent clashes between Itsekiri and Urhobo youths in Warri on Saturday.
The unrest, which broke out at Okere Roundabout, saw rival groups exchange gunfire, leaving several people injured and sparking widespread panic. Videos obtained by SaharaReporters showed armed youths engaging in street battles as residents fled for safety. Witnesses alleged that police officers initially stood by without intervening, though later reinforcements used tear gas to disperse the combatants. Some of the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals with gunshot wounds, though the exact casualty figure remains unclear.
In a swift response, Governor Oborevwori warned against attempts to inflame ethnic rivalries, stressing that his administration would not tolerate a repeat of the deadly 1999 crisis that scarred Warri.
“I am compelled to caution all those fanning the flames of conflict in Warri South Local Government Area,” the governor said in a statement issued by his Executive Assistant on Security Matters, Udoka Emmanuel Chika-dibie. “Security agents have been instructed to take firm action. Anyone found with arms should be arrested or neutralised.”
He added that the state government remains focused on peace and development, not tribal hostilities.
“Our administration will take all necessary measures to prevent an escalation of tension. We cannot afford to relapse into the chaos of the past,” he warned.
The state government has promised continued monitoring of the situation to ensure peace is fully restored.
