Tension has gripped the Evwreni community in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State as some armed youths have allegedly shot the immediate past President-General of the Evwreni Kingdom, Olorogun Victor Ohare, and set ablaze no fewer than three houses.
It was gathered that the incident, which occurred around 5pm on Saturday, also left over two vehicles burnt and many residents injured. It was gathered that police detectives from the Force headquarters had a few days ago arrested Mr Tuesday Okuah and three others in connection with the alleged murdered of Sylvester, a younger brother to the immediate past Executive Director, Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Samuel Adjogbe, in July this year.
The youth were alleged to have invaded the community following the news that Okuah had died in police custody in Abuja. Following the news, armed youths said to be loyal to Okuah went on rampage, destroying houses and cars, and shot Ohare and another person in the process.
Sources in the community said hundreds of residents had deserted their homes for fear of being killed by the arms-wielding youths. The youth were also alleged to have mobilised to burn the homes of the former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Mr O’tega Emerhor, and Adjogbe, but were repelled by security operatives.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, said it was a communal crisis, and that personnel of the command were already on the ground to calm the situation. “The incident has to do with a communal crisis that they arrested somebody and took him to Abuja, and whether they kill the person there or not, I don’t know what they are saying. But the persons shot, I can’t really tell whether they are alive or not. I will get back to you,” she stated.