The traditional ruler of Evwreni, Ovie Owin Kumani was reportedly murdered by "irate youths" in part over oil royalties disputes in January 2000 (This Day 11 July 2000; Vanguard Daily 13 Sept. 2000; The News 31 Jan. 2000). The News reports the date as 31 January 2000 and the Ovie as being in hiding following his "dethronement" (ibid.).

According to The News, Evwreni is

An oil-producing community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State... [It] has about 14 oil wells, glow and compressor stations operated by the SPDC, which produces 15,000 barrels of crude daily from the area since 1996 (31 Jan. 2000).

The News reports that in August 1999 the Evwreni Youths Association (EYA) reportedly had written a letter to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) giving them a 21-day ultimatum to build a cottage hospital, civic centre, borehole water supply systems, drainage channels, and tar major roads in the town (31 Jan. 2000). Additionally, they also demanded that a fence be build around the Ovie's palace and that he be paid "homage and royalties ...for the Evwreni clan Improvement Union" as well as an installation of phone lines at his palace (ibid.). Consequently,

SPDC offered to pay homage and royalties to the Ovie in cash and kind. Also it offered some jobs and scholarships to EYA. But this information was kept from the majority of EYA members. When the SPDC learnt of this and that youths were not pacified, it employed five men from another list sent by EYA...to drive home their point, the youths led a peaceful protest to the palace of the Ovie but got a hostile reception as armed palace guards shot at them allegedly killing one of them ...nine others were sustained bullet wound (ibid.).

Following this incident, Evwreni elders called for the dethronement of the Ovie allegedly for embezzling oil royalties to paid the community by the SPDC, and angry youths held protests in which two of them reportedly died (ibid.).

On 20 January, they got the Ovie in his hideout, dragged him out and killed him...his supporters invited policemen who rather than restore sanity, killed another prominent indigene, Chief James Fashe on Saturday, 22 January (ibid.).

According to the Vanguard Daily, peace returned to Evwreni in September thanks to the efforts of a committee in Warri led by Evangelist Abel Umukoro (ibid.). The committee reportedly went to Evwereni and Ughelli and appealed to the youths, and they also appealed to the brother of the slain traditional ruler "to allow peace to return" (ibid.).

No additional or corroborating information on the murder of the chief or any attacks on his wife and three sons around 10 February 2000, could not 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.

This Day [Lagos]. 11 July 2000. Issac Williams. "Youth, Police Clash in Delta: 30 Killed." (Africa News 11 July 2000/NEXIS)

The News [Lagos]. 31 January 2000. Victor Ofure Osehobo. "Evwreni, a town in Delta State, Expodes with a String of Murders." (NEXIS)

Vanguard Daily [Lagos]. 13 September 2000. Mike Ebonugwo. "Peace Return to Evwreni." (Africa News 13 Sept. 2000/NEXIS)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 2001.

Africa News Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 2001.http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/af/index.cfm?docid=700 [Accessed: 17 Aug. 2001]

IRB Databases. LEXIS/NEXIS.

Keesing's Record of World Events.

Resource Centre. Country File. Nigeria.

West Africa.

Internet sites including,

Africa News.

Post Express Wired.

Vanguard.

Search Engines including:

Google

Mamma