A security operation in Emede community, Isoko South Local Government Area, escalated into violence over the weekend, leaving several persons injured and houses destroyed by fire.
The incident began when a joint security task force under _Operation Delta Sweep_, comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and other agencies, stormed the community in search of an alleged drug kingpin.
Sources said the operatives raided a hotel where a birthday celebration was ongoing after failing to locate their target. They allegedly searched guests and demanded access to their mobile phones.
Witnesses reported that some youths resisted the phone searches, sparking a heated confrontation that degenerated into chaos.
“The people were celebrating a birthday when the security team arrived. They searched everyone and asked for their phones. Some of the youths objected, and the situation became tense,” a source said.
The confrontation intensified as more residents gathered. Security operatives allegedly fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.
Several youths sustained injuries in the scuffle, while one security operative was reportedly attacked by an angry mob before being rescued.
Sources claimed the security team later returned with reinforcements. The hotel at the centre of the incident and several residential buildings were subsequently set ablaze.
Efforts to get an official response from the Delta State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, Hon. Comr. Warri Ovoke Friday, has called for calm and assured residents of government’s commitment to restoring peace.
Ovoke, alongside the traditional ruler of Emede, HRM Johnson Egbo, Ewhiri II, security officials, and other stakeholders, visited the affected areas to assess damage, sympathise with victims, and meet community leaders on preventing further unrest.
He said authorities are monitoring developments and working with relevant agencies to ensure lasting peace and security.
To maintain order, the council chairman had earlier imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew, restricting movement of persons and vehicles in Emede between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Ovoke assured residents that normalcy is gradually returning and urged the community to remain law-abiding as investigations continue.
Pictures ..Naija Parrot
