Properties destroyed as youths protest killing of indigene by vigilante in Warri

In most communities in the state, town halls are informal or uncensored traditional centres of arbitration often misused by youths and community leaders to intimidate, brutalize and extort money from victims.

Right there in the Igbudu community hall, the suspect, whose offence has not been made known, was held hostage and, reportedly, tortured, leading to his eventual death.

Angered by the killing of the victim, youths in the community mobilised themselves to avenge his death.

The mayhem attracted the attention of operatives of the Warri Police Command who swiftly quashed the protest and restored normalcy.

The immediate past Community’s President, Chief Ovu Oyiboaga, described the action as ‘unfortunate.”

He appealed to the aggrieved youths to sheathe their swords while efforts are on by security agencies to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.

Chief Oyiboaga, however, lauded the effort of the Nigerian Police for a prompt response in maintaining law and order.

President of the Industrial Parts Dealers Association, Mr Gift Onotafe, whose members also felt the heat, expressed shock over the calamity suffered by the community and his members, which he claimed, run into millions of naira.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident, saying the situation has been brought under control.