There was a shootout Thursday, March 14 evening at Okere Community in Warri, Delta State as suspected thugs allegedly shot at indigenous Okere people returning home.
Those targeted in the attack, which allegedly happened at about 6pm Thursday, were some OKere community leaders including David Iwere and Philip Awani, who were granted bail Wednesday, March 13 and others, who fled the once peaceful community, after they were chased out Saturday, March 2, by same thugs, assisted by security men, particularly soldiers.
Reports from Okere indicated that houses, cars and other property of those attacked, were not spared as thugs allegedly backed by the Olu of Warri, overpowered the few policemen maintaining peace and security in the community and unleashed terror, causing serious tension amongst residents of the Okere and its environs.
Mr David Iwere, who released a short statement Friday, March 15, following the latest incident accused the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III of allegedly ordering the thugs to carry out the attack.
He claimed that the reason for the Thursday attack, was because of their support for Chief Ayirimi Emami, over his insistence on the edict regarding the succession to the throne of Olu of Warri and the preservation of Itsekiri custom and tradition, “which the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, is bent on desecrating with oily substance as displayed in Okere Community Ogwa (town hall) on Saturday, March 2 this year and similar exercise earlier at Ogbowuru hall in Ode-Itsekiri and Ugborodo.”
Iwere further alleged that “The Olu of Warri and Chief Francis Omatseye, usually make use of Warri Com Radio, to incite ignorant women and youths against some of us, standing with Chief Ayirimi Emami, by extension, the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as it relates to succession of the throne of Warri Kingdom.
“We will not succumb to the continued attacks, the Inspector-General of Police, should take note of the lawlessness and destruction being carried out by thugs acting on the behest of the Olu of Warri.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe in a phone chat with NewsNet Nigeria said, “We are still investigating the matter but there were no injuries and no life lost. There was more like a disagreement”.
