5 Killed in Fresh Ijaw, Itsekiri Clash
After a noticeable lull, ethnic fighting again rocked oil-rich Warri, Delta State, with five Ijaws feared killed yesterday evening in a clash with suspected Itsekiri youths. The incident occurred in the waterways of the city. A furious Ijaw leader, Chief Bello Oboko, condemned the incident even as Commander of the joint military task force on the Niger Delta, Operation Restore Hope, Brig.-Gen. Elias Zamani described the clash as an isolated case. But Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) said the Warri crisis is due to struggle for government resources and control of theft of the city’s oil. In Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, a shoot-out at a political rally claimed the life of one person. The Ijaw were said to be on their way to Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South-West local government area, when their speed boat was ambushed by Itsekiri youths. Full Story