Ogbebor raises alarm over ‘looming genocide’ against Itsekiri

Demands Warri state

By Henry Ojelu 

Elder stateswoman and prominent Itsekiri leader, Chief Mrs Rita Lori Ogbebor, has raised alarm over what she described as a “looming genocide” against the Itsekiri ethnic nationality in Delta State, warning that unresolved political and territorial disputes in Warri could degenerate into fresh violence if urgent action is not taken.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing, Ogbebor accused politicians of fuelling ethnic tensions among the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo peoples in the oil-rich Warri axis for political and economic gains tied to control of oil resources.

She alleged that recent public statements by some Ijaw and Urhobo groups amounted to open threats against the Itsekiri people and called on the Federal Government to intervene before the situation escalates.

“You may say the word genocide is harsh, but it is true. It happened before in this country. It happened in Delta State from 1997 to 2003,” she said.

According to her, the crisis in Warri was worsened by political manipulation and struggles over oil-bearing communities and local government structures.

She traced the origin of the conflict to disputes over land ownership and the creation and relocation of local government headquarters in the Warri area, insisting that court judgments, including Supreme Court decisions, had affirmed Itsekiri ownership of disputed lands.

“Every inch of land in Warri has a court judgment up to the Supreme Court. That is why they find it difficult to challenge us legally,” she stated.

Ogbebor accused rival ethnic groups of resorting to violence after allegedly failing to succeed through litigation.

She also revisited the violent Warri crisis of 1997 to 2003, claiming that the relocation of the headquarters of Ogidigben Local Government triggered prolonged hostilities in the region.

“The local government was supposed to be in Ogidigben, which is gazetted, but it was moved elsewhere. That was the cause of the fight between 1997 and 2003,” she alleged.

The Itsekiri leader further alleged that the administration of former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, created local government wards in Warri without due process, a development she said laid the foundation for present tensions.

She called for a probe into the political decisions taken during that period, warning that failure to revisit the issues could plunge the region into another round of violent conflict.

“One day Nigeria will wake up and find that whole area in flames if these issues are not revisited,” she warned.

Ogbebor maintained that the Itsekiri people were under siege and needed urgent constitutional and security protection.

“I am calling on the Nigerian government to give us protection. Give us a state or give us the kind of protection that will keep us from being wiped out,” she said.

She renewed the demand for the creation of a Warri State, arguing that the Itsekiri people historically existed as a distinct nation before amalgamation and met the constitutional requirements for state creation.

“We want Warri State. We were a nation on our own. Warri is viable and meets the conditions required for state creation,” she added.

Ogbebor also insisted that disputes over ownership of Warri and adjoining communities should be resolved based on historical records and court judgments.

She described the Ijaw and Urhobo as settlers in Warri, claiming that the Itsekiri had occupied the area for several centuries.

“There is a judgment that says everybody in Warri except the Itsekiri is a settler,” she said.

The elder stateswoman further called for the restoration of the disputed local government headquarters to Ogidigben and urged authorities to enforce court judgments relating to land ownership in Okere and other parts of Warri.

She warned that continued disregard for judicial decisions and political imbalance could threaten peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.

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