There is looming crisis in the oil city of Warri, Delta State, following an attack on Odion community allegedly by ?Itsekiri boys?.

The area which has reportedly suffered attacks in the past two years, on Sunday, experienced the burning down of a building amidst gunshots and an uncertain number of persons sustain gun wounds.

Accusing the Warri South Local Government Council chairman, Comrade Weyinmi Agbateyiniro of abetting the attacks, the community disclosed that it had been raising alarm for government?s intervention in the budding conflict, to no avail.

The people including the community secretary, claimed that trouble started with the destruction of a coronation banner of their monarch, the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri kingdom, as well as the renaming of an area and establishment of an executive body, moves they tried to resist.

A tricycle operator who sustained bullet wounds is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Bullet holes could be seen on his tricycle and on the walls of some buildings, while a few bullets shells were seen in the area.

Those whose homes were torched lamented that they could not save anything as the fire started unexpectedly, and all they were about was to run for their lives.

They called on the State Government to immediately intervene to avert a degeneration of the crisis.

The Council boss described the accusations as ?falsehoods,? stating that his administration has committed largely to ensuring unity and peace in the LGA.

He said: ?We do not by the special grace of God operate from lower cerebral realms as the authors of these falsehood will want the gullible segment of any society to easily believe. Unfortunately , you can?t find us there.

?We cant spend money regularly to fix security agencies like the army and police etc for effective security of the local government and then go back to do other things behind to undermine all the good work that we have. You will agree with that this not possible.

?Finally, you can go and verify that under our watch, the degree of unity and peace and security enjoyed is very unprecedented. Those who authored this blackmail and character assassination against me, my vice and other members of my team will be ashame now to realize that we don?t operate at the same cerebral spheres.?

According to feelers, the incident may not be unconnected to the recently released fieldwork on the wards delimitation exercise carried out in Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The report which was presented to the various ethnic nationalities in Asaba, last Friday, has since resulted in protest by the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, which declared a total rejection of the outcome.

Efforts to get comments from the Itsekiri youth leadership was unsuccessful as of press time. (The Nation)

Update news