“Enough Of The Killings”: Fear Grips Warri Community
Residents Stage Peace Protest Over Rising Killings in Warri
RESIDENTS of Odion Road and adjoining communities in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest over the recent wave of suspected cult-related killings that has thrown the neighbourhood into fear and uncertainty.
The protesters, made up largely of women and mothers, marched through major streets carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We Want Peace,” “Enough of the Killings,” and “People’s Children Are Dying,” while appealing to security agencies and community leaders to intervene urgently.
The demonstration followed a series of violent attacks in the area within the past few days.
Fresh Attacks Deepen Fear Among Residents
Tension reportedly escalated after a young man was shot dead along Urhobo Road last Sunday by suspected cultists. Residents said another youth was killed the following day along Iyara Road in a separate attack believed to be linked to ongoing cult rivalries.
Community members also disclosed that another victim narrowly escaped death after sustaining gunshot injuries during an earlier attack on Saturday.
The killings, according to residents, have created panic across the neighbourhood, forcing many traders and business owners to shut down early for fear of being caught in the violence.
One of the protesters, identified simply as Stella, said residents now live in constant fear as gun attacks have become increasingly unpredictable.
“We are afraid to even come outside in the evening to sell. Business has been badly affected because nobody knows when another shooting may happen,” she said.
Eyewitnesses Recount Daylight Shootings
Residents narrated chilling details of the attacks, describing how armed men allegedly arrived in tricycles and opened fire on victims in broad daylight.
According to eyewitness accounts, the man killed on Sunday had only just purchased a sachet of alcohol and sat down near a roadside vendor before the attackers struck.
Another resident claimed the victim killed on Monday appeared to have been tracked before he was shot shortly after leaving a makeshift bathroom within a residential compound.
The protesters said the repeated incidents have left families traumatised and children frightened, with many residents now avoiding movement at night.
Calls for Security Intervention
The demonstrators appealed to security agencies to intensify surveillance and restore confidence in the community before the violence spirals further.
They urged the police and local authorities to investigate the killings thoroughly and dismantle criminal groups operating within the area.
Some residents also called for greater community cooperation in identifying suspicious movements and preventing young people from being recruited into cult groups.
The women insisted that the community could no longer remain silent while lives continued to be lost to violence.
“We are mothers and we are tired of burying young people,” one protester said. “All we want is peace in our community.”
