Delta community demands suspects’ prosecution after deadly clash

The people of Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have demanded the prosecution of those responsible for the killing of Emiko Onuwaje, insisting that justice must be served to restore calm. Community leaders made the call during a peaceful protest at Ogidigben in the Ugborodo Federated Communities of Warri Federal […]

The people of Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have demanded the prosecution of those responsible for the killing of Emiko Onuwaje, insisting that justice must be served to restore calm.

Community leaders made the call during a peaceful protest at Ogidigben in the Ugborodo Federated Communities of Warri Federal Constituency.

The protest followed a deadly clash on Saturday between youths from Ugborodo and neighbouring Ogidigben riverine Itsekiri communities, which claimed Onuwaje’s life.

Addressing journalists, vice chairman of the Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC) and spokesman of the Ogidigben Community Council of Elders, Austin Ajuremisan, said justice could only be achieved by ensuring that those behind the killing are brought to book.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the UCMC, Mr Eyengho Samuel Besidone, stressed that arresting and prosecuting the suspects would help calm rising tensions, especially among aggrieved youths.

“The man killed has a family and children. This was pure murder, not a community dispute,” he said. “When armed men invaded our community, we initially thought they were bandits, only to see some of our brothers claiming to be fighting for the palace.”

The Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, Eghare Daniel Uwawah, said the incident occurred when some Ugborodo indigenes, including the deceased, were on their way to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facility in Ogidigben for a peaceful protest and were allegedly attacked.

Prominent Itsekiri leader, Chief Ayirimi Emami, described the killing as criminal and alleged that one suspect had made confessional statements, urging authorities to prosecute those involved without fear or favour.