The only reference to the "Urhobo youth movement" was found in a 10 October 2000 This Day article. The report stated that APJ Okpakpor, a barrister and leader of the Urhobo youth movement, was among those considered for the position of managing director for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) (ibid.). Okpakpor was formerly a finance commissioner and attorney general for the old state of Bende, and the first finance commissioner of the Delta State (ibid.).

While not mentioning the "Urhobo youth movement," several articles in 2001 reported on the renewed violence between the Urhobo and Itsekiri youth.

On 26 May 2001, a Post Express journalist, Francis Onoiribholo, was kidnapped by warring Urhobo and Itsekiri youth members after a fight broke out during a meeting in which the issue of a new local council in Warri, an Uruhobo area in the southern state of Delta, was being discussed (AFP 27 May 2001). The article stated that the Post Express had reported that several homes were razed, four people were shot, and an unknown number of people were killed during the "renewed violence between ethnic Itsekiri and Urhobo youths" (ibid.). The Vanguard reported the conflict ensued following a request made by Okere-Urhobo Chief Benjamin Okumagba to the Delta State Committee on Local Government Creation that a local government for the Okere-Urhobo be established within the current boundaries of the Warri-South local government (14 June 2001). The Itsekiri community "was vehemently opposed" to the request made by the Okere-Urhobo (ibid.). The Itsekiris in Okere allege that that the Okere belong to their community because five of the six quarters that form the Okere are owned by them, while only one quarter, the Idimi-Sobo, belong to the Urhobos (ibid.). When the Committee on Local Government Creation visited the Warri South local government on 26 May 2001, it was met with protesters from both the Urhobo and Itsekiri camps, who blocked the government delegation from entering the premises (ibid.). The peaceful protest soon turned into "a violent clash between the opposing youths of Itsekiri and Urhobo" (ibid.). As also reported in the 27 May 2001 AFP report, the Vanguard reported that homes were burnt and that four individuals were shot (ibid.). The police arrested six people in connection with the incident (ibid.).

In June 2001, the Post Express and the Vanguard reported the alleged kidnapping of Kenneth Lori, a Itsekiri leader, by Urhobo youth in Okere (Post Express 19 June 2001; Vanguard 14 June 2001). The kidnapping led to an escalation of violence (ibid.). The Vanguard report stated the following on the incidents surrounding the kidnapping, as well as the violence that ensued afterwards:

Both the Itsekiris and the Urhobos of Okere have their different accounts of what actually happened on that fateful day [on 16 June 2001].

According to Pa Okere Uku, the Deputy Olare-Aja of Okere, a leader of the Itsekiri in Okere, "one Kenneth Lori, an Itsekiri man was allegedly kidnapped by Urhobo youths around Okere under the guise of being a robber and killed him in cold blood." Also on the same day, Pa Okere-Uku further alleged, "an Isoko indigene residing in Okere (simply named) John was mistaken for an Itsekiri and kidnapped and killed by (alleged) Urhobo youths."

The Itsekiri leader further alleged that "In an attempt to attract sympathy and inter-tribalise the crisis, the Urhobo ravaged and burnt an Ijaw church at Apala area of Warri claiming that it was done by the Itsekiri."

Ostensibly, the Itsekiris regrouped and in a bid to rescue their kidnapped brother, fighting broke out again leading to burning of houses and sporadic shooting.

The following day, fighting continued when the Itsekiris further alleged that one Kuta Eyifoma was kidnapped at Okumagba Estate area but that he was lucky to have escaped.

But Chief Benjamin Okumagba has a different version of the events of Saturday June 16 and Sunday June 17, 2001 respectively. According to the Otota of Okere kingdom, the violence of Saturday June 16 was sparked off allegedly by the Itsekiri youths who disrupted a marriage ceremony by the Urhobos in Okere area. It was the attempt to repel the attack by Itsekiri youths that led to the violence of Saturday.

The following day Sunday, 17th Chief Okumagba said he had returned from the family of the late Chief Odibo where he had gone to pay tribute to the late Urhobo leader when he was informed that a young Urhobo boy was shot in the head allegedly by Itsekiri youths. The boy according to the chief was later rushed to Cyros Clinic where he was treated for gun shots.

Chief Okumagba alleged that in the entire crisis that has rocked the Oil City of Warri, the Itsekiris are always the aggressors as they are the ones who are always on the offensive.

On the other hand the Itsekiris in Okere alleged that Okumagba "planted a platoon of soldiers of the Nigerian Army and some men of the Mobile Police around Eboh road and Ighogbadu area with the sole aim of using them to attack Okere community in the event of a confrontation. He has always wanted trouble" (ibid.).

According to reports, both ethnic groups were acquiring arms and ammunition to continue the violence (ibid.; Post Express 19 June 2001). The police commissioner for the Delta State, John Ahmadu, was to transfer his office to Warri to deal with the situation of the stockpiling of arms (ibid. 22 June 2001; Vanguard 14 June 2001). According to the police commissioner, the Itsekiri and the Urhobo have acquired the weapons following the request of the Okere-Urhobo to divide the area in which the Warri South Local Government is located (Post Express 19 June 2001).

A 25 July 2001 Vanguard report stated that the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) had threatened to "wage war against the Itsekiris." Matthew Origbo, UPU Chief, stated that the Urhobos would defend themselves against attacks on the Idimi-Sobo in Okere and would not "concede any inch of land to the Itsekiris in Warri now or in the future" (ibid.). These statements were made following alleged incidents in which the Itsekiris attacked Urhobos in Idimi-Sobo because they suspected that the Urhobos were plotting with the Ijaws to attack them (ibid.).

No reports of an attack on the Urhobo by the Itsekiri in November 1999 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 May 2001. "Warring Youths Abduct Newspaper Reporter in Warri." (FBIS-AFR-2001-0527 27 May 2001/WNC)

Post Express [Lagos]. 22 June 2001. Francis Onoiribholo. "Ibori Goes Tough with Saboteurs." http://www.postexpresswired.com/postexpress.nsf/24c35a000fe637798525691a0076c2cb/cf37d5d12387231885256a7600375975?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Urhobo [Accessed 1 Aug. 2001]

_____. 19 June 2001. Francis Onoiribholo and Chris Anana. "Warri Boils Again: 15 Houses Razed as Urhobos, Itsekiris Clash." http://www.postexpresswired.com/postexpress.nsf/24c35a000fe637798525691a0076c2cb/5e7e62c97f4f96c885256a700056283d?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Urhobo [Accessed 1 Aug. 2001]

This Day [Lagos]. 10 October 2000. Steve Nwosu. "So Who Gets the NDDC Top Job?" http://allafrica.com/stories/200010100278.html [Accessed 2 Aug. 2001]

Vanguard [Apapa]. 25 July 2001. Neville Amorighoye. "Warri Crisis: Urhobo Progress Union Threatens to Retaliate." http://www.vanguardngr.com/news/articles/2001/July/25072001/d4250701.htm [Accessed 1 Aug. 2001]

_____. 14 June 2001. Blessyn Okpowo. "Why Warri Crisis Persists." http://www.vanguardngr.com/news/articles/2001/june/23062001/c4230601.htm [Accessed 1 Aug. 2001]

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