By DIANA OLUWOLE

Women and young girls in the Odion Road area of Warri on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, staged a peaceful protest over the rising incidents of cult-related killings in the community.

The protesters, who came out in large numbers, marched to the Warri South Local Government Council Secretariat, calling on the Council Chairman to urgently intervene and put an end to the persistent cult clashes that have claimed the lives of several young men in the area.

Speaking during the protest, some of the women lamented the increasing rate of violence and insecurity in the community, noting that many families have continued to live in fear due to the recurring clashes among rival cult groups in Warri South Local Government Area.

The protesters complained that for the past one week, residents of Odion Road, Ogedegbe and Iyara areas have found it difficult to go about their normal daily activities as suspected hoodlums allegedly took advantage of the situation to rob residents and cause panic in the affected communities.

The protesters said the continuous killing of young men was not only affecting families emotionally and economically, but also reducing the number of productive youths in the society.

Addressing the protesters, the Head of Personnel Management (HPM), Mrs. Remi Omastuli, appealed to the women to remain calm and return to their various homes, assuring them that their grievances would be conveyed to the Council Chairman, who was not in office at the time of the protest.

She further assured the protesters that the concerns raised would be addressed by the council authorities.

The women appealed to the Chairman of the Council, security agencies and relevant authorities to intensify efforts in tackling cultism and restoring peace to the area, stressing that residents were tired of losing their children and loved ones to avoidable violence.

They further urged parents, community leaders and youths to work together in discouraging cult-related activities and promoting peace within the community. (Delta State News Bulletin)

• PHOTO: Protesting women and young girls in the Odion Road area of Warri locked out at the Warri South Local Government Council Secretariat