Group demands arrest, prosecution, of Delta APC, NDC clash perpetrators

The Human Rights Advocacy Coalition, alongside the Delta State Civil Society Organisational Forum and Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative, has strongly condemned the political clash that erupted in Warri and Effurun, Delta State on Friday. In a statement released on Saturday, the coalition demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the violence, labeling it an "existential assault on human dignity and a fundamental betrayal of the social contract."

Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, the spokesman for the coalition, highlighted the incident as a result of "primitive and aggressive tribalism."

The group emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that the disruption of activities along the Effurun-Warri corridor had negatively impacted residents, including market women, daily-wage workers, and business owners. The coalition also referred to Sections 33 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee the rights to life and freedom of movement, arguing that the violence had infringed upon these fundamental rights.

The coalition vehemently condemned the use of violence in political activities, asserting that democracy should be based on the exchange of ideas rather than physical confrontations. They called on political leaders to publicly disown acts of violence and cautioned their supporters against hate speech and electoral sabotage. Furthermore, the group urged traditional, religious, and community leaders to work together to prevent further violence and protect public spaces, urging residents of Effurun, Warri, and the Uvwie community not to be manipulated by political elites.