Death Toll Reaches 19 in Warri

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
December 8, 2003
Posted to the web December 8, 2003

By Onwuka Nzeshi
Warri
Emerging facts from the attack on two Ijaw communities in Warri-North Local
Council at the weekend indicated that about 19 persons were killed and scores
of others wounded when some militant Itsekiri youths burnt houses and shot
sporadically around the area.
Security reports revealed that the two villages namely, Yukugbene and
Ologbobubor situated on the banks of the Benin River came under attack when the
militants after laying ambush on them, set their houses ablaze and opened fire
on the community.
Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, Brig. Gen. Elias Zamani disclosed
that while the invaders burnt down completely Yukugbene, its neigbouring
community was only partially razed.
The attack posed fresh challenges to the peace process in the area coming
barely two months after President Olusegun Obasanjo during the visit advocated
peaceful co-existence and mutual accommodation amongst the warring ethnic
groups.
Meanwhile, an Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has condemned the attack, but
blamed it on what he described as the Presidency's unwillingness to resolve the
crisis using the political solution advocated by some groups.
According to Clark, President Obasanjo's policy of ethnic accommodation rather
than creating separate local councils was responsible for the renewed conflict.
Also, the Ijaw group, Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Community (FNDIC) has
challenged Governor James Ibori to carry out his earlier threat to sack
political appointees who fail to keep peace in their ethnic enclaves.
Chief Adviser to the FNDIC, Mr. Dan Ekpebiide, said the sack of the cabinet
members from the offending ethnic group would go a long way in making the state
government's efforts to keep the peace accord working.

   

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