Warri killings: Uneasy calm, as Navy investigates tragedy

UNEASY calm still pervades the atmosphere of Ifiekporo in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State where a naval rating manning the facility of the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) shot dead two youths during a protest on Friday.

The victims simply identified as Agbolu,  from Ifiekporo community and Christopher Eghenure Igbogidi, from Ekpan in Uwvie Local Government Area, were protesting with their colleagues over job slots in the company when they were shot dead by the naval rating.

Tension was still mounting in the two communities of Ifiekporo and Ekpan borders on the request by the people that the identity of the naval rating be released and maximum action taken to redress the trend.

Bothered about the killing, chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Mr Mofe Edema, expressed shock over the incident.

“This is one killing too many. How can NNPC engage security personnel to be killing these innocent community youths like flies every time? It is just not fair,” the council chairman said.

Meanwhile, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, in a short statement, on Saturday, said investigation was ongoing over the tragedy.

He also assured indigenes of host communities within the command’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) of their safety both on land and on waterways.

“With respect to the incident that happened at NPDC yard at Warrior Refinery, I wish to emphasise our readiness to protect lives and property in our AOR. In doing this, we will be cognisant of the need to relate cordially with our host communities. I assure you that investigation is still ongoing on the issue,” the naval boss reassured.

Meanwhile, the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC) has called on the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to direct the Chief of Naval Staff, Inspector General of Police and other security chiefs  to call their officers and men to order.

It said that it would no longer tolerate “the unprovoked extra judicial killing of innocent Itsekiri youths.”

Spokesman of the apex Itsekiri youth body, Stanley Emiko, who returned to Ifiekporo from the Okpekpe Marathon competition in Edo State over the killings, stated that the recurrent killing of Itsekiri youths by security personnel in Ifiekporo was “barbaric, irresponsible, unprofessional and capable of causing crisis in Warri and environs.”