Warri, Delta State - In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples through the Niger Delta region, an overnight raid allegedly involving Nigerian Army personnel attached to Tantita Security has left one Itsekiri youth leader dead and a community in disarray. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of September 18, 2025, has reignited long-standing ethnic tensions and raised serious questions about military conduct in the volatile oil-rich area.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts, armed men believed to be a combination of Nigerian Army soldiers and Tantita Security operatives stormed the Pessu community in Warri South under the cover of darkness. The raid quickly turned violent, with reports of indiscriminate gunfire echoing through the streets. In the chaos that ensued, Dele Ogunbayo, a prominent Itsekiri youth and local vigilante member, was reportedly shot twice and forcibly removed from the scene. Community sources later confirmed his death, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit Itsekiri population.

The violence did not stop with Ogunbayo. Another youth, identified only as Stephen, suffered gunshot wounds during the assault. His current condition remains unknown, adding to the anxiety gripping the community.

This latest incident appears to be part of a larger pattern of unrest in the area. Earlier clashes in nearby Ekurede saw Itsekiri youths successfully repelling what they described as an attempted invasion. Sources suggest that following this setback, the armed group redirected their efforts to Pessu, before expanding their operation into neighboring areas including Iyara and Ajamimogha.

Community leaders have come forward with alarming claims, stating they possess evidence of Ijaw youths plotting to attack the Palace of the Olu of Warri. These allegations include purported group chat messages detailing plans to burn the royal residence and distribute firearms throughout Warri South. Despite presenting this information to authorities, Itsekiri residents allege that the Nigerian Army's response was to target their communities instead, conducting house-to-house searches and confronting local youths.

The situation has drawn sharp criticism from the Itsekiri People's Congress, who have characterized the events as part of a "coordinated oppression" campaign involving elements of the Delta State Government, as well as Ijaw and Urhobo interests. In a strongly worded statement, the group declared, "We are defending our land, our heritage, and our people, yet we are the ones being hunted and criminalized."

As tensions continue to simmer, the involvement of Tantita Security - a private firm contracted by the federal government for oil pipeline protection - has come under scrutiny. The company has yet to respond to the allegations of their participation in the raid.

The Nigerian Army, for its part, has maintained silence on the specifics of the Pessu operation. A separate Army detachment reportedly arrived later to quell the unrest, but for many residents, this intervention came too late.

This latest outbreak of violence occurs against a backdrop of escalating ethnic strife in Warri. Recent weeks have seen multiple clashes between Ijaw and Itsekiri youths, resulting in property damage and prompting heightened security measures across the region.

As dawn broke over Warri on September 18, the full extent of the night's events began to come into focus. With one youth leader dead, others injured, and a community left reeling, the incident has cast a long shadow over the future of inter-ethnic relations in this crucial part of Nigeria's oil-producing heartland. As investigations into the raid continue, many are left wondering what steps can be taken to prevent further bloodshed and bring about lasting peace in this troubled region.