Normalcy Returns Following Removal of Ogbe-Ijoh Monarch Coronation Banners in Warri

In an effort to forestall break down of law and order, men of the Nigerian Police have collaborated with the Nigerian army to restore calm in the Warri metropolis following the removal of posters and banners of the Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom along Warri-Sapele Road, Warri by the Nigerian Police.

The Banners and Posters bearing the inscription, “10th Coronation Anniversary of Monbene III, the Pere Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijaw Kingdom, Warri South-West and Warri South”, mounted at the Okere Rd Roundabout and smaller formats along electric poles on both sides of the Warri-Sapele Road up to the Miller Waterside Area, appeared to have drawn the ire of Itsekiri youths who insisted on bringing down the “offensive banners and posters” if the authorities failed to do so.

Speaking on behalf of the protesting Itsekiri youths, Oritsema Ejoh explained that the domain of the Ijaw monarch does not extent to any part of Warri South as “his Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom exists only in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State”.

Angry Ijaw youths and women upon hearing that the Ogbe-Ijoh Monarch’s banners were been taking down, mobilized in scores from the Miller Waterside Area by the Warri General Hospital Road onwards to the Okere Road Roundabout but were intercepted by a heavy presence of men of the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian army by Police Barrack junction.

Shortly before the arrival of the protesting Ijaw youths, men of the Nigerian Police were seen visibly removing the posters and putting them in their vehicles neatly. This further infuriated the Ijaw youths who confronted the Nigerian Police.

in another video, the protesting Ijaw youths were seen destroying Warri South Local Government Council secretariat banners on its fence.

Speaking at the protest ground via a video clip sighted by this reporter, Arex Akemetubo, Publisher of Waffi TV decried the incident citing oppression and intimidation of the Ogbe-Ijoh people by the Chairman of Warri South Local Government, the Nigerian Police and Army. He called on the Delta State Government to protect them in “our land”, which he claimed belongs to the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom.

As at the time of writing this report, the Nigerian army has addressed and dispersed the protesters explaining that the posters and banners were removed to avoid provocation and breakdown of law and order in an already tensed atmosphere.

Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released a controversial draft proposal of Ward Delineation in Warri Federal Constituency on April 4, 2025, tensions have heightened among the Itsekiris, Urhobos and Ijaws following ownership claims.

The Ijaws, on one hand, claim that they exist in Warri South Local Government and the Urhobos claim they are in the majority in Warri South.

However, the Itsekiris armed with several historical, electoral and legal documents claim the Urhobos are a minority while the Ijaws are not part of Warri South Local Government Area -the latter position corroborated by two separate high court judgements in two separate suit numbers: W/277/2012 and W/147/2020.