Uvwie Rejects Itsekiri Ancestry Claims Over Key Communities

The Uvwie General Improvement Union (UGIU) has dismissed claims linking the origin of some communities in Uvwie Kingdom to Itsekiri ancestry, warning that any attempt to alter established history could threaten the peace in the area.

Addressing journalists in Effurun, Delta State, the union’s President General, Hope Erute, said the reaction followed reports from a recent cultural gathering where narratives tied Ugbenuowhoru, Ugbomro, Okwatata and Iteregbi to Itsekiri founders. He stressed that Uvwie people would firmly defend their land, identity and heritage.

Erute maintained that historical accounts and genealogical records trace the communities to Uvwie roots. He explained that Ugbenuowhoru originated as an Uvwie settlement before accommodating maternal relations of mixed background, while Ugbomro was founded by Uwherume of the Abadi family, adding that no indigenous Itsekiri families exist there. He also referenced the era of Nana Olomu, pointing to his maternal ties to Uvwie and past refuge in the area.

While noting a history of peaceful coexistence, trade and intermarriage between both ethnic groups, the union urged those promoting the claims to desist and focus on development. It further called on the Delta State Government and security agencies to take steps to prevent any breakdown of law and order.