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4 Soldiers, 16 Others Killed As Warri Violence Rages

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
August 17, 2003
Posted to the web August 18, 2003

By Sola Adebayo

NO fewer than 20 persons were feared dead as the troubled oil city of Warri
erupted in a fresh orgy of violence in the early hours of yesterday. The
deceased included four soldiers from the Effurun Barracks who were on peace
keeping exercise in the city.
The building along both sides of Macaiver Road as well as about five on NPA
Bypass Road were razed during yesterday's mayhem. The state government clamped
a fresh dusk to dawn curfew on the city in response to the renewed blood bath.
The full scale war which erupted in the night of Friday continued till early
hours of yesterday with the combatants engaging in sporadic shooting. The heavy
shooting forced the residents to stay awake throughout the night.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that fresh crisis erupted when armed Itsekiri youths who
were allegedly angered by the weekend's attack on Ode-Itsekiri and Ijalla
communities swooped on Macaiver area of the city where about 20 buildings
mostly owned and inhabited by Ijaws were set on fire.
About 10 persons of Ijaw extraction also lost their lives during the attack on
Macaiver. Fifteen others sustained severe gun shot injuries.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that Ijaw youths, in a swift reaction, regrouped at
Miller Waterside, close to the Warri Ports, from where they allegedly planned
the invasion of Ekurede-Itsekiri, an area exclusively inhabited by Itsekiris in
the city. The Ijaws met a stiff opposition in the soldiers and Itsekiri youths
in their bid to gain entry into the area. The warriors reportedly engaged in a
decisive battle leading to casualties on both sides.
Four soldiers were allegedly killed in the bloody clash at NPA entrance into
Ekurede-Itsekiri. About five buildings owned by Itsekiris were burnt along the
NPA Bypass. Reports indicated that six persons identified as Itsekiris died at
the Ekurede-Itsekiri battle zone.
The renewed crisis had worsened the security situation in the town as residents
were seen fleeing the war ravaged town. Economic activities were paralysed
resulting in the closure of markets in the city such as Ogbe-Ijoh, Pessu and
Main Market. The state government, in a statement by the Secretary to the State
Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the
city with immediate effect.
Uduaghan asked residents to henceforth stay indoors from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.

   

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