Urhobo WSLC Peace Committee Member Killed By Itsekiri Youths

By Ambrose Ologide

Tension in Warri as a Warri Urhobo born member of Warri South Local Government Council Peace Committee member, Jerry Aduara was shot dead by Itsekiri youths in the process of brokering peace between the Urhobos of Odion and their Itsekiri counterparts in Iyara in the mid afternoon of Saturday, September 27th, 2025.

The third highest traditional chief in Okere Urhobo Kingdom, High Chief Hon Onoriode Okoh who was present during the tragic incident, narrated that the natives of Odion Urhobo whose one of their ancestors, Iyara was named after the entire area, were serving their deities when the incident occured.

Okoh who is the Oletu of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, averred that the Urhobo Odion Community, the ascentral home of HRM Dr Morris Ogheneochuko Eyekpimi- Egboboyen, the Orosuen (traditional ruler) of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, sought for police and Warri South Local Government Council Peace Committee permission and protection for the exercise and that “we were granted the permission and protection.

“Members of the Warri South Local Government Council Peace Committee constituted by the Warri South Local Government Council Chairman, Hon Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro comprising fifteen members each from Warri Urhobos and the Itsekiris inspected what we wanted to do and they were satisfied that it will not cause the breach of peace.”

He recalled also that the previous day before the incident, the Itsekiri youths on the opposite side of the community violently invaded their shrine and carted away things that were to be used for serving their deities to the Itsekiri area of Edukuwho Street.

Okoh also narrated that the people of Odion Urhobo still went ahead with activities making the worship of their deities with the presence of policemen and that Itsekiri youths despite these, crossed over from their side and disrupted the exercise and that Jerry Aduara who was a two time chairman of Odion Urhobo Youth Council came out and played his role as a member of the Warri South Local Government Council Peace Committee and pleaded with the Itsekiri youths to give peace a chance and that in the process, he was shot dead by the Itsekiri youths with effrontery.

High Chief Hon Onoriode Okoh who said the Warri South Peace Committee has outlived its usefulness with the killing of Jerry Aduara, therefore called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to investigate the matter and to bring the culprits to book in the interest of justice.

Jerry Aduara until his death, lived in Otovwodo ( Agbassa) Community.

Efforts to hear from the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Hon Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro and the Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO), Delta State Police Command, Asaba, SP Bright Edafe as at the time of filing this report were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, there was tension in Warri due to the tragic incident as scores of policemen and civil defense members have mounted strategic places in Warri to forestall break down of law and order stopping and checking vehicles in the process.