The Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 5, AIG Salman-Dogo Garba, has held a crucial security meeting in Benin City, Edo State, to address potential unrest following the INEC ward delineation exercise in Warri, Delta State.

The gathering included key stakeholders from the region, such as the Commissioner of Police for Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, local government chairmen, and representatives from various ethnic groups, including the Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Olu of Warri’s palace.

CP Abaniwonda highlighted tensions among the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups post-delineation and requested AIG Garba’s intervention to prevent escalation.

AIG Garba, in a statement by the Zone’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tijani A. Momoh, emphasized that there should be unity among these groups and urged caution to avoid conflicts similar to the crises of 2003/2004.

He stressed the importance of community leaders controlling their youths and avoiding incendiary remarks on social media, reminding attendees that the loss of life is irreversible.

Garba said the meeting aimed to foster peace and security in the area amidst the sensitive political climate.

Amongst the speakers were the representatives of the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, the Okere Urhobo Kingdom, the Isaba Kingdom, the Agbarha Warri Kingdom, the Gbaramatu kingdom, the three local government chairmen, among others.

They all sued for peace and noted that they did not want a crisis in Warri.

They also noted that the delineation exercise carried out by INEC had not been finalised and that INEC had asked all aggrieved parties to study the draft and bring up their complaints, observations and contributions.

The AIG, In conclusion, warned that any further breakdown of law and order would not be tolerated, and that the trend of name-calling and social media protest would not be tolerated henceforth.

Garba stressed that anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

He also warned that no ethnic group should refer to another ethnic group as ‘CUSTOMARY TENANTS’.

At the end of the meeting, all parties agreed to work towards the peace and security of Warri Federal Constituency.

They pledged to caution their youths and work towards maintaining the existing peace in order to bring back economic prosperity in Warri, Delta State. (The Nation)