After squabble in Abuja hotel, Niger Delta youths seek relocation of HostCom meetings to Warri

Youths from the Niger Delta region have advocated for the relocation of host community (HostCom) meetings to Warri, Delta State.

This comes after a violent outbreak at a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The altercation, which occurred at a popular hotel in the Jabi area of Abuja, resulted in at least three individuals sustaining serious injuries.

One of the injured parties was promptly taken to a hospital.

It took the combined efforts of security personnel from the Utako Police Division and the hotel management team to restore order at the venue.

Victor Udoh, President-General of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders, addressed the media after the incident.

Udoh emphasized the necessity of moving discussions to Warri to ensure the safety and effectiveness of future meetings.

“This impromptu press address is necessary to shed light on the unfortunate events that unfolded over the last three hours.

“Our attention was drawn to the fracas within the aforementioned hotel, where members of the oil-producing community from Delta State were gathered to hold a meeting.

“During this meeting, there were significant disagreements; some groups were excluded from the invitation, leading to conflict and even bloody injuries,” he said.

Udoh, who leads the platform advocating for the Niger Delta’s interests, expressed dismay over the exclusion of some groups from the meeting, which escalated into conflict.

He asserted that the choice of Abuja for the meeting resulted in “unnecessary embarrassment” for the Niger Delta and stressed the importance of inclusivity.

“We urge the Delta State structure of the oil-producing community to hold all future meetings in Warri, a significant city in the Niger Delta.

“Our appeal is to ensure that future meetings are held in Warri, where the community has confidence in the leadership and the process,” he said.