Stop Targeting Itsekiris, Pressuring DSS, Stop the Obsession with Olu's Name –WIPM Fires Back at Ijaw-Urhobo Press Conference

The Warri Indigenous People Movement (WIPM) has fired back at Ijaw and Urhobo leaders over a recent joint press conference, accusing them of stoking ethnic division and launching unjustified attacks on the Olu of Warri.

In a statement released today via a Facebook post by the group’s Secretary Monoyo Edon, WIPM condemned the April 30 press event where Ijaw and Urhobo representatives allegedly made unverified claims against an Itsekiri-born British officer accused of plans to incite unrest in Warri, and made veiled references to the Olu’s involvement in regional security tensions.

WIPM Chairman Hon. Kingsley Tenumah described the conference as a “reckless and ethnically inflammatory” attempt to manipulate public opinion and unjustly malign Itsekiri leadership. The group insisted that the Olu of Warri has no ties to any alleged arms dealings, calling the claims a “dangerous provocation” that must end immediately.

“The Olu of Warri is too dignified to be drawn into these petty and false allegations,” the group stated, emphasizing the monarch’s global reputation for integrity and leadership.

WIPM further accused some Ijaw and Urhobo figures of intentionally pressuring the Department of State Services (DSS) to prolong the detention of the British officer, despite a lack of evidence and a clarification by the British government. They warned that if the “interference and intimidation” do not cease, the group will publicly expose those allegedly involved.

The group also accused the Ijaw and Urhobo groups of employing diversionary tactics aimed at shifting attention away from the real issues plaguing the Niger Delta namely, the illegal stockpiling of weapons by known ex-militants and the alleged misuse of state security to target innocent Itsekiris.

According to the group, the press conference was a calculated attempt to deflect scrutiny from these activities by fabricating a narrative that casts suspicion on the Itsekiri ethnic nationality and its traditional leadership.

The statement also pointed to past comments by HRM Asari Dokubo, who allegedly admitted to arming ex-militant leader Tompolo, noting the silence of Ijaw and Urhobo leaders on the matter. WIPM argued that this “selective outrage” reveals a double standard and an attempt to scapegoat the Itsekiri nation.

Among its key demands, WIPM called for the immediate release of the detained officer, a halt to what it sees as ethnic profiling, a retraction of statements linking the Olu of Warri to the conflict, and a balanced investigation into arms proliferation across the Niger Delta, particularly in regions known for militant activity.

“The real gun runners in the Niger Delta are well known, and they are not Itsekiris,” the statement adds.

While affirming its commitment to peace and justice, WIPM said it would not remain silent in the face of what it sees as an orchestrated campaign of ethnic intimidation and misinformation.