Warri, Delta – Escalating ethnic frictions in Nigeria's oil-rich Delta State have prompted a fervent plea from the Indigenous People of Okere (IPO), an Itsekiri advocacy group, urging Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to decisively halt what they term "illegal incursions" by Ijaw elements from Ogbe-Ijoh in neighboring Warri South-West into the heart of Warri South's Okere territory.

The call, delivered amid a charged press conference on Tuesday, underscores a deepening rift over land ownership that has simmered for decades, threatening to unravel fragile peace efforts in the volatile Niger Delta region.

Speaking at the Okere Community Hall in Warri, Hon. (Barr.) David Eyitemi Oki, Imagemaker of the Okere Community and a member of the Okere Elders’ Council, framed the issue as a direct assault on Itsekiri heritage.

"The incursion of the Ijaws of Ogbe-Ijoh into the territories of Warri South Local Government Area, particularly Okere community, is a brazen development that threatens peaceful coexistence, the safety of lives and property, and the territorial integrity of the Itsekiri people," Oki declared on behalf of the IPO.

He implored the governor and relevant authorities to intervene "with courage, integrity, and impartiality," warning that any deviation from the rule of law would amount to "complicity in the erosion of justice and peace."

The community's grievances center on alleged "criminal occupations and cultural incursions" into key landmarks such as Miller Waterside, Main Market, and McIver Market—areas the IPO insists are unequivocally Itsekiri-owned.

Oki cited a century of judicial precedents to bolster their claim, referencing landmark rulings in 1928, 1956, and 1964 that culminated in Supreme Court affirmations of Itsekiri ownership over Warri lands, explicitly barring Ijaws from asserting claims.

A 2013 attempt to revive the dispute was swiftly dismissed by then-Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Marshall Umukoro, who labeled it an illicit bid to circumvent settled law.

"Not an inch of our ancestral land will be surrendered. We are resolute in defending our heritage and territorial integrity," Oki affirmed, decrying what he described as "aggressive media propaganda" aimed at extending Ijaw influence into Warri South.

Echoing these sentiments, Comr. Amaechi Ogbitse Ogbonna, another Elders’ Council member, lambasted the Delta State government for allegedly undermining peace by allowing Ijaw occupants in disputed zones like Miller Waterside to linger.

"Ogbe-Ijoh does not exist in Warri South, but in Warri South-West," Ogbonna asserted, alleging that the state had previously acquired Chief Mabiaku’s Estate—including the Central Hospital, Custom House, old Post Office, Marine Police area, and Miller Brothers’ Road (erroneously dubbed Tunde Smooth Road by some)—to facilitate the return of non-indigenes to their origins.

He further claimed ownership over expansive swathes encompassing the Old and New Ports of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Government Reserved Area (G.R.A.), Post Office, and Catholic Church, all under Okere's purview.

This latest flare-up is but the latest chapter in Warri's storied land battles, where Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo claims have repeatedly collided, often with deadly consequences.

The 1928 Warri Township Assessment Report and subsequent cases like Chief Apoh v. Perememighan (1928) and Chief Apoh and Chief Okotie v. Pere (1938) established Itsekiri overlordship, permitting Ijaw usage only with permission.

The 1956 suit (W/148/56) and 1964 Supreme Court ruling reinforced this, declaring Ijaw assertions baseless.

Yet, Ijaw groups, including Ogbe-Ijoh, counter that Warri Township is multi-ethnic, with colonial records affirming their foundational role and dismissing Itsekiri narratives as manipulated.

The Warri Crisis of 1997–2003, which displaced over 200,000 and claimed hundreds of lives, was ignited by disputes over local government headquarters relocation from Ogbe-Ijoh (Ijaw) to Ogidigben (Itsekiri), exacerbating resource-sharing tensions in the oil-booming delta.

Recent months have seen renewed volatility: In June 2025, Ijaws rebuffed Itsekiri ownership claims, insisting on their autonomy in Warri South-West.

A September 16 protest by Ijaw residents in Ijaghala accused Itsekiri and police of oppression during a king's coronation banner dispute.

Days later, on September 18, the killing of Dele Ogunbayo in Pessu prompted calls for a state inquiry into inter-ethnic violence.

Governor Oborevwori, an Urhobo native, has repeatedly championed unity.

On September 19, at a Warri funeral, he urged Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo leaders to "shun divisive tendencies," decrying social media's role in stoking fires and quipping, "If you want to fight, fight after 2031—don’t fight during my time."

Itsekiri leaders, including Igba of Warri Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, have sought federal protection against "coordinated takeovers" by Urhobo and Ijaw, citing Supreme Court validations of their claims.

Conversely, Ijaw advocates like Victor Okumagba of the Warri Urhobo National Congress (noting Okere's Urhobo ties in some contexts) argue Itsekiri lack ancestral roots in Warri Township, per judicial criteria.

The Warri Council of Chiefs, on September 21, pressed Oborevwori for an urgent inquiry panel.

As patrols intensify and social media buzzes with unverified threats, analysts warn of broader implications for Delta's $88 billion digital economy projections and oil stability.

"Warri's peace is Delta's pulse—inaction risks a return to 1999's carnage," noted local analyst Edafe Akpoguma.

The IPO's missive ends on a defiant yet diplomatic note: Uphold the law, or watch justice erode.

Governor Oborevwori's office has yet to respond publicly, but sources indicate high-level consultations are underway.

For now, in this tinderbox of history and hydrocarbons, all eyes turn to Asaba for a verdict that could redefine Warri's borders—or its brotherhood.