Warri: Failure To Address Issue Early Will Lead To Severe Consequences, Agberen Says In Open Letter To Oborevwori

Dear Governor Of Delta State; His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori,

We cannot afford to overlook the fact that unrest occurred few weeks ago in the Warri South Local Government Area of the State, where individuals were allegedly shøt and injűred, and in another allegation, someone was allegedly kiłłed, resulting from disagreements between the Itsekiris and the Ijaws. Again, on 28 September 2025, it was also gathered that similar events occurred between the Itsekiris and Urhobos in Odion community, where one Mr. Jerry, was kiłłed. Whether he was shøt by an Itsekiri or accidentally by his fellow tribesman, no one deserves to díè in such a tràgic manner.

The Delta State Government should not feign ignorance on lasting solutions to end the tension in Warri. The Delta State Government should immediately invite traditional leaders in the concerned areas to convey decisive message or should the Delta State Government fail to recognize the appropriate channels for addressing issues when their originators and solutions are readily apparent?We can also behave not to know that the ethnic youths are allegedly taking orders from traditional leaders and also prominent persons in the community and politics in general.

The Urhobos and Itsekiris must learn to tolerate each other regardless of any lingering differences. If there are existing issues that concerns boundary or ward delineation, there are respective agencies that resolves issues of boundaries and ward delineation. Regardless of whether there were existing court rulings in the past regarding territorial disputes, or whether other ethnic groups feel that the decisions of past judgments should be overturned, differences in tribe and opinions should not result in viølènt behaviour or kiłłings.

Considering potential consequences of communal conflicts, the failure of relevant government authorities to address these lingering issues on social media platforms in which also concerns the Urhobos, Itsekiris and Ijaws, has resulted in what happened some days ago especially between the Itsekiris, Ijaws, and the Urhobos.

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The events that characterize ethnic conflicts, resulting in arsøn, løss of lives and property, and economic downturns, are not situations any well-meaning government would wish to occur in subsequent years, looking back on previous events. As it is the sole responsibility of any government to ensure peace and security first, before governance can thrive and be attainable, as no society can progress in crisis-prone areas.

The Delta State Government under Governor Sherrif Oborevwori led administration should do well to respond promptly and find a solution to this looming unrest before it further escalates into serious conflicts. Traditional leaders should be made to sign an undertaking on behalf or in the absence of their subjects. There are existing concerns that have been ruled on and implemented by apex judicial authorities, or existing decisions that the government can draw upon to resolve this matter.

We must always prioritize peace, even if it does not immediately de-escalate tensions. While measures are in place to protect and prevent viølènce against any group or community, ethnic representatives from all sides of the divide must be made to understand that no tribe or individual is bigger than the Nigerian state. Also, ethnic groups must see the need to grow beyond tribal sentiments and marginalization, as it has done us more hárm than good.

However, I urge his excellency, as the executive Governor of Delta State, to focus on the overall progress of the state, firstly by using all available means to address the concerns of all tribes. The State Government should not tolerate incidents marked by violence or anything that could provoke crisis. The Delta State Government should take all necessary steps to alleviate these concerns, particularly media handlers, responsible for escalating tensions in the State.

Comr. (Amb) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen
National Coordinator, Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancement(ISRCA)
AKA “No Justice, No Peace.”