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Headline News
8 feared dead in Warri, as fresh violence erupts
By Sola Adebayo (Vanguard)
Feb 1, 2003, 10:40
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NO fewer than eight persons, including a military man were feared dead as the oil city of Warri erupted in fresh violence, yesterday. About ten buildings were also burnt in Okere area of the city. Although, the cause of the crisis remained sketchy as at press time, it was learnt that property worth several millions of naira were lost in the incident.
There was heavy shooting in the oil city last night as residents of Okere, Estate, Ajamiwogha and other areas ran for their lives. Thick smoke from the burnt buildings also enveloped the entire city. The youths operated with sophisticated weapons, forcing the soldiers of 7th Batallion, Effurun saddled with the responsibility of ensuring peace in Warri to run for cover.
One of the fleeing soldiers, a Sergeant, was overpowered, and his service riffle snatched before he was shot dead. Security sources fingered the Urhobo youths as the aggressors in yesterday's crisis.
They (Urhobo youths) were alleged to have invaded the houses of their Itsekiri neighbours who had gone for the primaries election of the PDP to elect the National and State Assemblies candidates of the party at Warri Township Stadium to unleash terror on their household.
They were alleged to be protesting the alleged lack of political courage by the state government to implement a 12 wards structure for Warri South local government council of the state. Their position was that the present ten wards structure favoured their Itsekiri neighbours.
The heavily armed Urhobo youths barricaded all the strategic roads and streets in the Okere and Estate areas of the city, ostensibly to prevent security agents from gaining entrance into the area, before storming the residences of their Itsekiri neighbours.
As at the time of filling this report, about eight persons, notably of the Itsekiri stock were reported to have been killed in the renewed oil city blood-bath. About ten buildings belonging to Itsekiri nationality were also burnt down. The situation was very tensed as at yesterday evening as security agents, particuarly the authorities of 7th Batallion were mustering efforts to contain the hostilities.
Already, several lorry loads of combat ready anti-riot police and soldiers were drafted to the troubled areas.
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