Two persons are feared dead, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries in clashes between soldiers and some youths in Okere community in Warri South Local Government Council of Delta State.
Trouble started on Saturday at a ceremony supposed to be administered by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, when some youths descended on the venue only to encounter stern-looking soldiers who seemed to have intelligence reports of the youths’ plans.
Multiple sources informed select journalists that the two persons killed were identified as Macaulay Uku and Daniel Grey.
It was further learned that the rampaging youths resisted the first-class monarch from entering Okere community to perform a rite, a development that led to the deployment of soldiers to Okere community.
“Some youths had resisted the monarch from entering the community to perform the rite, prompting the deployment of soldiers to the area.
“Their main grievance was that the monarch was planning to pour anointing oil on the shrine, as against the established customary rites that the people were used to.”
At the time of filing this report, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer had yet to respond to the text message sent to him.
Meanwhile, the command had yet to issue an official statement amid tension in the community due to the crisis.
