Warri Cult Clash Leaves Multiple Dead — Police Launch Manhunt

June 23, 2026 4 min read

At least five people were killed in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday when rival cult groups clashed in the city's Otu Jeremi area, according to residents and local officials. The violence erupted late in the afternoon, sending panic through densely populated neighbourhoods near the Warri refinery district. Police confirmed they deployed officers to the scene as rumours of further attacks spread through the community.

Violence Erupts During Daylight Hours

Witnesses said the confrontation began around 4 pm when members of two rival cult factions encountered each other near a popular market. Shots were fired immediately, and bystanders scrambled for cover as the attackers continued their assault. The assailants moved through the streets for approximately 30 minutes before withdrawing, residents told Vanguard News.

"We heard gunshots everywhere. People were running in all directions," said Blessing Okonkwo, a trader whose shop sits along the affected road. "I saw someone fall right in front of me." Okonkwo spoke to journalists at the scene before police cordoned off the area.

Police Response and Casualty Figures

Delta State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued Thursday evening. Officers from the Warri Central Police Station responded to distress calls and secured the area, the statement said. Five bodies were recovered from the scene, while three injured persons were taken to the Warri General Hospital.

Police Public Relations Officer Bright Fate confirmed the casualty figures but declined to name the specific cult groups involved pending further investigation. "Our officers are working to identify the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice," Fate stated.

Warri's Long History With Cult Violence

Cult-related killings are not new to Warri, a major oil hub and commercial centre in southern Nigeria. The city has seen decades of turf wars between groups seeking control over economic territories, including waterways, markets, andoil industry contracts. Security analysts have long linked the violence to poverty and the marginalisation of communities in the Niger Delta region.

Successive state governments have attempted to address the problem through security operations and amnesty programmes, but residents say the violence persists. "Every government comes and talks tough, but nothing changes," said Eki Igho, a community leader in Ogbe-Ifa, a district adjacent to the attack site.

Impact on Local Businesses and Families

Thursday's bloodshed forced many shops to close early, disrupting trade in one of Warri's busiest commercial zones. Market women who typically remain open until dusk packed their goods and fled, losing a full day's earnings. The attack also interrupted traffic along the Warri-Patani highway for several hours.

For families of the victims, the immediate concern is retrieving bodies from the morgue. Hospital fees and burial costs will strain households already struggling with Nigeria's high inflation rate, community workers warned. The Warri Traditional Council urged authorities to provide support to bereaved families.

Security Failures and Community Demands

Residents criticised the police response time, saying officers arrived long after the attackers had fled. Some locals attempted to confront the gunmen before security forces appeared, according to multiple accounts. "The police were very late. By the time they came, the boys had finished what they started," said Chukwuemeka Oghene, a mechanic whose workshop is 200 metres from the attack site.

Community leaders called on Delta State Governor Sherrif Oborevwori to address the security situation urgently. The Warri South-West Local Government Area, where the clash occurred, has recorded at least three similar incidents this year, according to local media reports.

Investigation and What Comes Next

Police said they have opened a murder investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby businesses. Officers also plan to interrogate witnesses and search for the weapons used in the attack. The names of suspects have not been released.

Human rights groups monitoring the situation called for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the clash. The Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition issued a statement demanding improved policing in Warri's most vulnerable neighbourhoods.

What to Watch

The Warri community is bracing for possible retaliation attacks, a pattern that has followed previous cult clashes in the region. Residents expect police to increase patrols over the coming days, but many remain skeptical the security presence will be sustained. The state government has not announced any additional measures as of Friday morning.