Warri, Delta State, was thrown into fresh mourning as an Urhobo youth was shot dead during a violent clash between Urhobo and Itsekiri youths in Odion community.
The incident occurred on Saturday September 27, 2025, despite Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s repeated assurances that his administration would spare no effort in preserving peace across the state.
According to eyewitness accounts, the bloody confrontation erupted when Urhobo youths from Odion community attempted to celebrate their age-long masquerade festival.
They were allegedly warned not to enter the Iyara axis, an Itsekiri stronghold, if the celebration was to proceed.
The resistance sparked an altercation that spiraled into a gun battle, leaving one youth dead and residents fleeing for fear of stray bullets.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development in a terse message to The Story, said: “Confirmed.”
The violence comes barely days after Governor Oborevwori, through his Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, reiterated that his administration would not spare anyone fomenting trouble in the state.
The governor had emphasized that his MORE Agenda, Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security, could only thrive in a peaceful atmosphere.
He also inaugurated a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to reach out to aggrieved groups, underscoring his commitment to unity and inclusiveness across ethnic lines.
But Saturday’s incident in Warri underscores the fragility of that peace.
Critics argue that while committees and promises are laudable, the persistence of ethnic flashpoints like Warri highlights the urgent need for firmer security measures and practical reconciliation efforts that go beyond rhetoric.
For now, residents of Odion and Iyara communities remain gripped by fear as they brace for possible reprisals, casting fresh doubts on the effectiveness of peace-building initiatives in the State.
