The Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Youth Council (OWKYC) has raised serious concerns over what it described as a reckless and misleading political maneuver allegedly designed to incite ethnic unrest in Warri and its surrounding communities in Delta State.
In a strongly worded press statement issued on Sunday, March 22, 2026, the youth body accused certain actors within the Itsekiri community of holding what it termed a clandestine meeting aimed at orchestrating fresh ethnic tensions in the Warri Federal Constituency.
The statement specifically referenced a purported gathering involving members of the group known as Ugbarajo Itsekiri, which the youth council described as an “attack group,” allegedly aligned with the palace of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri. According to the council, the meeting reportedly involved the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Agbateyiniro Weyinmi Agbas, whom the youth body accused of promoting ethnic interests capable of destabilizing the fragile peace in the area.
Allegations of Ethnic Bias and Political Manipulation
The youth council lamented that the Warri South Council Chairman has allegedly been at the center of recent disputes involving the Itsekiri and the Ijaw community, particularly the people of Ogbe-Ijoh.
According to the statement, council resources that should ordinarily be directed toward development initiatives are instead being used to pursue ethnic political agendas, a development the youth group warned could deepen divisions within the multi-ethnic Warri metropolis.
The group further insisted that the Ogbe-Ijoh people have long resolved to maintain peaceful coexistence with neighboring ethnic groups, including the Itsekiri community, and will not allow themselves to be drawn into what it described as calculated provocations.
Historical Significance of Ogbe-Ijoh Market
A central issue highlighted in the press statement revolves around the identity and historical recognition of the Ogbe-Ijoh Market, which the youth council described as a significant historical and cultural landmark of the Ogbe-Ijoh people in Warri Township.
According to the group, the market predates the arrival of Ginuwa I—recognized in Itsekiri tradition as the progenitor of the Itsekiri nation—as well as the advent of British colonial administration in the region.
The council further asserted that the market was formally recognized under colonial administration through the Warri Market Ordinance Act of 1926, which established regulatory bye-laws governing market activities in the region.
The statement explained that the ordinance was later amended on March 20, 1936, under the authority of Bernard Henry Bourdillon, who served as the Chief Commissioner for the Southern Provinces during the colonial era.
In addition, the youth council emphasized that official records maintained by the Delta State Ministry of Trade and Commerce continue to recognize the market under its historical name — Ogbe-Ijoh Market.
Dispute Over Market Signage
The youth body also alleged that the Warri South Council Chairman recently directed the removal of the signpost bearing the name Ogbe-Ijoh Market.
According to the statement, the directive was allegedly conveyed through the Secretary to the Warri South Council to the market master appointed by the council.
However, the market management reportedly resisted the order to remove the signpost, insisting that the name represents a historically recognized identity tied to the Ogbe-Ijoh people.
The council further alleged that following the refusal to remove the signpost, members of Ugbarajo Itsekiri were mobilized to hold a meeting with the council chairman with the alleged intention of enforcing the directive.
The statement also referenced a similar incident in September 2025, when posters commemorating the 10th Coronation Anniversary of the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom were reportedly removed, an action the youth council claimed involved the Area Command in Warri.
Evidence of Official Recognition
To reinforce its claims, the youth council cited records from the administration of Warri South Local Government during the tenure of former chairman Mr. Agbas, under which recognized markets within the council benefited from a traders’ empowerment initiative known as the SHERIFF CARES Programme.
According to the statement, traders operating within the Ogbe-Ijoh Market received ₦10 million in cooperative loans on August 14, 2024, a disbursement approved by the council itself — an indication, the youth body argued, that the market was officially recognized under that name.
The youth council further noted that the market was formally handed over to the Warri South Local Government by the Delta State Government through the Office of Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, then led by Chief Godwin Uzor.
Warning Against Escalation
In its concluding remarks, the youth council warned that any attempt to alter the identity or remove the signpost of the Ogbe-Ijoh Market would be firmly resisted by the community.
The group called on the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, to urgently intervene and caution the Warri South Local Government Chairman against actions capable of plunging the historically sensitive Warri region into another cycle of ethnic conflict.
Signatories
The statement was jointly signed on behalf of the youth council by:
- Comrade Victor Akemotubo – President, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Youth Council
- Comrade Randy E. Ayeotu – Secretary, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Youth Council
Observers say the development underscores the persistent complexities surrounding ethnic relations and historical claims within the Warri Federal Constituency, a region that has witnessed several political and communal disputes over identity, territory, and heritage.
Stakeholders across the Niger Delta have continued to call for dialogue, historical clarity, and responsible leadership to prevent the resurgence of tensions in the area.
Source: Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Youth Council Press Statement
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Author: Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
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