UPDATED: How Soldiers Reportedly Invaded Okere-Warri, Shoot Sporadically As Youths Resist Olu Of Warri

Tension is currently brewing in Okere community, Warri South local government area of Delta State following heavy presence of fierce looking soldiers who are reportedly firing shots at the ‘Okere shrine area’.

Sources disclosed that two persons simply identified as Macaulay Uku and Daniel Grey were reportedly shot and dozen of others badly wounded, in an ensuing melee.

It was learnt that the two persons were injured in the shooting which occurred Saturday at Okere-Warri metropolis.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting are unclear as at the time of filling this report but some sources said that the development stemmed from a traditional ceremony billed to be performed by Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.

It was learnt that some youths had resisted the monarch from entry the community to perform the rite prompting the deployment of soldiers to the area.

The Commanding Officer of the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Effurun Barrack where the soldiers were deployed from, Major A. Ohegbe, however denied knowledge of the shooting but confirmed the heavy presence of security personnel during the visit.

Major A. Ohegbe who was contacted by The Nation, hinted that the fracas was sparked off by resistance to the monarch’s visit by a section of the indigenes of Okere community, which is the home of Chief Ayiri Emami.

The newspaper had reported that a section of the Okere community sided with Chief Ayiri Emami, the Ologbotsere of Warri, whose alleged removal is the subject of an ongoing litigation.

“Those who are loyal to the Ayiri essentially are opposed to the monarch and this has resulted in the polarisation of Okere,” a source in the area said.

Supporters of the monarch however said that there was no opposition to the monarch in Okere, stressing, “He is the Olu of all Itsekiri people”.

Our source further added that the people of the area were incensed by an attempt by the monarch to sprinkle anointing oil at the sacred ground of the Okere shrine.

It was gathered that two of the victims of Saturday’s shooting were those loyal to Chief Emami, leading to insinuation that the soldiers were brought in to suppress opposers of the monarch’s visit.

Tension has gripped the community as supporters on the opposing sides trade words on social media and on the streets on the next line of action.