By Charles Pemu 
Warri, Delta State – Leaders of Itsekiri ethnic nationality have accused the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh, Monbene III, of deliberately instigating violence and undermining the peace of Warri through persistent and unlawful attempts to extend his territorial authority into Warri South Local Government Area.
In a detailed statement made available to newsmen on Saturday 20th September, at the palace of the Olu of Warri,the leaders stated that the monarch’s actions have been the root cause of bloodshed, destruction of property, and heightened insecurity in recent times. They pointed to the September 18 midnight attack in Pessu community, Warri South, where armed men suspected to be attached to Tantita Security Company allegedly opened fire and killed Dele Ogunbayo, a local vigilante leader. Ogunbayo’s death, the group stressed, was yet another tragic addition to the growing list of Itsekiris murdered in the ongoing conflict.
The Itsekiri leaders condemned what they described as the Ama-Okosu’s provocative decision to mount coronation anniversary billboards in Warri South, an area outside his recognized domain. They argued that such actions were not only unlawful but amounted to a direct challenge to the authority of the courts, which have consistently ruled against his claims.
They cited several court rulings, including Suit No. W/147/2020, which the Ama-Okosu instituted in a bid to secure recognition and royalties in Warri South. The matter, after years of legal proceedings, was dismissed in March 2024, with the court affirming that his domain does not extend beyond Warri South-West. Although the monarch has appealed the decision, hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2025, and the Itsekiris insist that the existing judgment remains binding until overturned.
“It is reckless and insensitive for His Majesty to continue parading himself as ruler over Warri South while his appeal is still pending,” the statement declared. “By encouraging his followers to erect illegal signposts, occupy Itsekiri lands, and unleash violence, he has proven to be a destabilizing force rather than a custodian of peace.”
The leaders further alleged that certain powerful government functionaries of Ijaw origin were sponsoring the Ama-Okosu’s claims, thereby escalating tensions in Warri. They likened such internal betrayal to treason, warning that it posed a greater threat to peace and governance than external enemies.
The Itsekiri Leaders therefore made the following demands: that the Ama-Okosu immediately remove all billboards and banners in Warri South; that his subjects desist from further acts of harassment and violence; that the Delta State Government establish a judicial panel of inquiry into illegal land occupation in Warri GRA; and that security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff, investigate the killings and the alleged involvement of Tantita Security Services Limited in the crisis.
According to the statement, not fewer than five lives have already been lost, while the commercial life of Warri has been severely disrupted. They insisted that the monarch must respect the rule of law and abide by court decisions rather than inflame the situation with provocative claims.
“The Itsekiri nation stands firmly by the law,” the statement concluded. “What we demand is simple: let justice be upheld, let peace be preserved, and let those who seek to destabilize Warri be called to order.”