Three young men were fatally shot and five others severely injured on Monday night during the annual traditional festival in Eku community, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Following the incident, graphic images and videos believed to show the aftermath quickly circulated online around 8:30 pm, fueling tension in the community.
Sources within the Urhobo community told Vanguard that the violence may have been linked to a rivalry between groups vying for territorial control. However, it remains unconfirmed whether the victims were affiliated with any groups or if the incident was cult-related.
Eyewitnesses reported that festivities were ongoing, with many residents gathered at drinking spots around Osuere—the town’s historical center—when the chaos erupted. According to accounts, a member of one group received a call that an associate had been shot elsewhere in the community. Without verifying the information, he allegedly retrieved a pump-action rifle from his vehicle and opened fire on three youths at separate locations.
Additionally, one of the deceased was discovered to have suffered a cutlass wound to the neck. Around five more individuals were reportedly hospitalized with deep cutlass injuries sustained during the festival.
A resident, Kenneth, explained that cutlasses are customarily part of the festival celebrations, but disputes can sometimes lead to serious injuries. “We dance with cutlasses during the festival and sometimes use them on ourselves. If someone gets badly hurt, others may retaliate. That’s how some people ended up in hospital,” he said.
As of press time, the atmosphere in Eku was calm, though reports indicated that some youths had temporarily left the area in anticipation of security personnel arriving. According to sources, not everyone who fled was directly involved in the incident; some left out of fear of being caught up in police operations.
Security forces were deployed to the community shortly after news of the killings broke, working to restore order and prevent further violence.
— Vanguard News Report
