Three Killed, Five Injured as Traditional Festival Turns Bloody in Delta Community

Three youths were reportedly shot dead while five others sustained serious injuries during the annual traditional festival in Eku community, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident occurred on Monday night, triggering tension in the community as pictures and videos said to show the aftermath of the violence circulated online from about 8:30pm.

Sources within the Urhobo community told Vanguard that the violence may have been linked to an alleged supremacy dispute between rival groups competing for territorial influence in the area. However, it could not be independently established whether the victims belonged to any group or whether the incident was connected to a cult-related conflict.

Eyewitness accounts suggested that the community had remained in a festive mood, with residents gathered at drinking spots around Osuere, considered the geographical centre of the town before its later expansion. The situation reportedly changed after one person received a phone call claiming that a member of his group had been shot elsewhere in the community.

Sources said the man allegedly rushed to his vehicle, brought out a pump-action rifle and opened fire at three youths in different locations without first confirming the report. One of the deceased was also said to have suffered a cutlass injury to the neck.

At least five other people were reportedly taken to hospitals within the local government area after sustaining deep cutlass wounds during the festival. A resident identified as Kenneth explained that the use of cutlasses forms part of the traditional celebrations, but disagreements during the activity can sometimes lead to injuries.

“We dance with cutlasses during the festival and sometimes use them on ourselves,” Kenneth said, adding that injuries sustained during confrontations could lead to retaliation.

The community was reportedly calm as of press time after security operatives moved into the area to prevent further violence and restore order. Some youths were said to have temporarily left the community ahead of the arrival of security personnel, although a source stressed that fleeing residents should not automatically be assumed to have been involved in the incident.